From Randy's Wife: Tuesday June 20th - shortly after I arrived home, I called Randy's cell phone to see where he was at. We were going on week 2 of his new commute from Everett (1 1/2 hr drive from home). He was so excited about his new job but neither of us were liking the commute. It had seemed that almost every night so far, when we talked while he was driving home, I could hear sirens in the background and I knew that meant it would be a couple of hours before he would get home.

This night, when Randy's phone was answered, I could hear the normal sirens. I had a fleeting thought of teasing him of how he couldn't stay away from those sirens. But it wasn't Randy's voice on the other end that answered. It was a strange "Hello". I responded with "Who is this?". The voice on the other end paused, and repeated the question back to me, "Who is this?". I asked the question again, but got the same response. I pulled the phone away from me to ensure I had dialed the right number ~ sure enough, it said "Randy" on the caller id. I explained to the man that I was calling my husband and this was his phone. Then I heard the words that no one wants to hear ~ my husband had been in a car accident. I asked if he was okay. Again, there was a pause. Then a "Well, he is breathing. We are taking him to Harborview Medical Center. You better get down there". They tried to ask me some questions about him, I am not sure if I answered. I just remember seeing my daughter's face ~ the panic, the fear. I remember trying to reassure her that he was going to be fine, and then I left her at the neighbors house as one of the neighbors took me to the hospital.

What I have learned of what happened (I don't have the witness statements yet, just second hand information): Randy was sitting at a complete stop in the far right-hand lane of I-5. The lane to him was also stopped and in that lane, there wasn't a car right next to him, but a little bit back from from where he was at. Someone driving a Ford Taurus came up in that lane doing approximately 60 mph. The Taurus couldn't stop in time to not hit the car in the lane next to Randy so the Taurus went into the HOV lane. In the HOV lane was a boxed truck (a service truck). The Taurus clipped the backend of the car in the lane next to Randy, then hit the boxed truck in the HOV lane. The boxed truck hit the median, lost control, and hit Randy right in the driver's side door right where Randy was sitting. Randy was unresponsive whenthe paramedics got there. They had to cut the top of the car off to get him out.

Randy's injuries and what has happened after: He had a decompressed skull, several facial fractures, fractured ribs, and a collapsed lung. The night of the accident they did surgery to mend the decompressed skull (they put 2 titanium plates in to fix it). His lung has completely healed. His left side is weak, but getting better every day. Everday I see and hear more of my Randy coming back.

Come check out our website for everyday updates: http://updatesonrandy.blogspot.com/

Email Rachel