6/11/2012-The day of Scott’s accident was a typical day of racing. They had made it to the track in New Jersey safely and were preparing for the night’s race. Scott, Doug (his younger brother) and Matt (our son) were doing their usual routine of car setup.  It was about 5:30 and they were doing their last minute preparations, checking and double checking.  The driver’s meeting was to start at 6:00.  Then the show would start with hot laps. In New Jersey, ALL racetracks are governed by the state and they have established written guidelines that each track must follow. It is my understanding that one of the rules in the state of New Jersey is no one can fire their cars until licensed paramedics are on scene. Unfortunately for Scott, someone did not play by the rules that day.  Obviously, the track owner and the series that was there that day, didn’t feel they had to follow those rules. It wasn’t made clear to the drivers, car owners and crews that this was the rule. Or they just didn’t care. That nearly cost my husband his life.

 From what I have been told, Scott was on the left rear side of the car kneeling down making sure the rear tire was aired properly and tightening it down. Doug was on the right side of the car. Ray (Scott’s boss and driver) was inside the trailer. I am sure that what happened next, happened so fast. Scott remembers hearing a car coming through the pits, Ray yelling at him and the sound of the motor revving up. An out of control sprint car was heading right towards them. Scott stood up and turned half way around just in time to be struck by the car. We are not sure if the driver panicked or the throttle stuck, but he literally drove through Scott and through the car he was working on. That driver never braked, never let off the throttle, never pulled the car out of gear which caused the driver to drag Scott what some said was 90 feet or more. I am sure chaos, panic and fear took everyone over at the point.

 While Scott was lying in the dirt, everyone went to him to help. He was bleeding profusely from his legs and from what they tell me, everyone knew it was not good. The damage to his legs was immediately apparent to everyone. Ray and Big Willy (Ray’s brother) was at Scott’s side, trying to keep him calm and keep themselves calm. Everyone was waiting for the paramedics to get there to help. But they didn’t come right away. Because they weren’t even at the track yet. He laid there bleeding for over 15 minutes before paramedics arrived.  Luckily, the people that were there had enough sense to tourniquet Scott’s legs and administer first aid. Ray’s mom, Ming was also there and a retired nurse. From what others have told me, I guess she was really fired up on the people around wanting Scott to get medical attention.  There was also a retired firefighter and a veteran there too, I think. I guess the paramedics wanted to take him by ambulance but because of the persistence of bystanders, they called Life Flight.

 Scott remembers a lot more about that day than anyone should have to. He knew it was bad and he has said that he didn’t think that he was going to live through it. He said he remembers hearing the helicopter coming in, giving Matt his wallet, telling him he loved him and then everything went black. He could hear what was going on around him but couldn’t see anything. They wouldn’t let anyone go with him in the helicopter, not his brother, not even his own son. Both boys needed medical attention themselves for cuts and scrapes. The impact had pushed the car into them, knocking them out of the way.

 I cannot imagine how everyone felt that day and honestly, I am so thankful that I was not there. I know I could not have handled seeing that. I worry about those who were there and how they are dealing with it emotionally even almost nine months later. I think about it every day and I am sure they do to. That is an image that will probably forever be etched in their minds. I hope to someday get their perspective on the events that happened that day and to write about it. Writing about this whole experience has helped me mentally and emotionally in a way that I never that it would. I don’t want to think about what happened and every time I do sit down and start typing, recollecting what’s happened, I usually end up crying the whole time.  But I know that in order to heal and move forward, it has to be done. Keeping this all inside is not healthy for any of us. I hope that they will be willing to share their thoughts with me and heal with me.

Because I cannot do this alone.