Story

One hot day in the summer of Aug 4th 2022, I had woken to get ready for my regular day of work in construction. At the time I was in a hotel in Kokomo, Indiana for work that our company provided for us while we did work in this area (originally work in Chicago, due to low work some got moved to Indiana). 

During the Pandemic I had became an Uber driver in between construction projects for work. I also was using their provided cars to Uber but I had to pay on them weekly in order to keep it. Once a month you have to come into the Hertz facility to renew your rental for the next month.

I was able to use the car for personal uses as well so I took it with me to work out Indiana where I also ubered outside of work hours a couple times. On this Aug 4th day I was scheduled to come into the Hertz facility to renew my car. Kokomo, Indiana is about two and half hours away from Chicago and they also are an hour ahead. I got approved by my bosses to leave work early so I can take the drive home and come back for work the next day.

During these work days in Indiana we would work 10hrs a day for 6 days a week. Most days especially the two days following up to the accident we’re extremely hot. After I hurried to the hotel to get clean from work to head to Chicago I stopped to charge the car I was renting before I hit the road. The car I was driving at the time was a Tesla so I had to set aside the charge time.

On the drive heading towards Chicago I ended up on a back road detour due to some road work being done. As I was driving about a hour and a half maybe a little more, I fell asleep driving and didn’t realize it. While driving the car ventured to the side where I hit a tree. After I hit the tree the car then rolled three or four times and I ended up, upside down. The police and paramedics where called luckily by a near by road crew down the road from the site of the accident. The paramedics showed up with a helicopter and I was air lifted to the hospital in Indianapolis Indiana. Where I had broken my neck and shoulder, during this whole time I am unaware of what’s going on. 

The accident happened on a Thursday at about 2:30-3 o’clock pm. I didn’t come back to my senses untill about that friday and saturday. They had me on a leg moving machine while laying in the bed and I thought I couldn’t walk. When they told me I could walk I instantly asked to walk around the hospital because I just needed to know I could still walk. I ended up in a neck brace for a little over a month. The neck brace was weird to get adjusted to when i had it and when it got taken off. 

Everyday, I wake up just grateful to still be here. A lot of people don’t make it in accidents as bad as mine. I’m here for a reason and I want to just spread awareness. Awareness to take true advantage of time, don’t waste it, appreciate the small things. Always remember keep going and keep smiling!