I could see that the occupants in the small red Metro were obviously in trouble. In the car was a family; mom, dad, and about a 10 or eleven year old son. They were all hurt and shaken. My first instinct was to make sure they were all right and they would be hit again by cars coming through the intersection. Just as I was checking inside the car to ask the driver (mom) if she was all right I looked over to my car and the black Acura was still attached to the front end of my car. The driver, who was ok was trying to drive (back up his car). I couldn't really tell if he was trying to flee the scene or just trying to park his car out of the intersection. He didn't however ask me and I had realized that I had left the car on and in gear, so as he backed up from my car my car accelerated forward towards him trying to back up his own car. Needless to say it shook him up, and if he had any idea on fleeing the scene his hopes were now dashed.
I couldn't get him to help me. I asked him in Spanish and in English to give me a hand directing traffic but after his attempt to back up the car, he just stood by the side of the road, not helping to direct traffic away from an already dangerous traffic situation. No call was offered or made by him to the police. So after checking on the Metro I called them myself.
Well I didn't realize it at the time but this intersection lies right on the boundary between Santa Clara and San Jose, so now both fire department vehicles were on the way. Both police departments were represented as well. After some negotiation they decided that the accident happened in Santa Clara and the Santa Clara police now took over.
The three victims in the Geo Metro were taken to the hospital and I believe were alright but I never really found out for sure and I feel bad for them. The driver at fault turned out to be 17 years old with no license or permit, and no insurance. The funny thing about all of this; if there is anything funny is that this young unlicensed, uninsured driver had a better car than all of us. I guess if you don't have to make insurance payments you can afford more car.
The sad part is that my car was totaled. They would have to tow it away and I would have to walk home. After a horrible experience with "the system" I was having more misgivings about driving in the near future.
First of all the police would not allow me to call my auto club AAA. They said that I had no choice but that Lima Towing of Santa Clara would tow the vehicle away. They did not tell me that I would not have access to my own property that would be left in the car, but that turned out to be the least of my worries. Although it was obvious who was at fault I would have to wait over12 days before I could access the accident report.
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