Person Description Icy Bridge

Icy Bridge

I always dread winter weather, but to drive in it is even worse. When I was living in Sioux Falls, back in 2006; I was watching the weather as freezing rain is predicted for our area. We already had fresh snow on the ground, and now with the freezing rain would make the roads ice covered. I planned on getting up early to head for work since I had to drive 15 miles one way, and usually takes me 20 minutes. Although I have had many years of driving in winter weather, nothing prepared me for a scary drive on an ice covered bridge.

I could call into work and tell them, I was not going to drive in this type of weather. My boss will give me a guilt trip; if she could drive in it, I could also. I had no choice, but to try to drive to work. I packed a few extra clothes, a blanket and put them behind the seat of the pickup. I went to bed and set my alarm clock to get an earlier start in the morning. The alarm clock is now set for 4:00 A.M instead of 5:00. I continued to watch the weather; worry about how I was going to make it to work in the morning.

Knowing I was going to get up early, all I did was toss and turned in bed. Looking at the alarm clock as the night went on. It never fails, when I worry about waking up late, even though the alarm clock is set, I cannot go to sleep. All I did was lay there thinking of all the scenarios of what I would do when I was driving to work. What would happen if I turned too quickly? Which direction should I steer? What happens if a vehicle is behind me and cannot stop? What happens if there is a car next to me? With all the thoughts in my head, it turned into a dream of driving this way.

Beep, beep, beep. No, it can’t be time to get up yet, I just fell asleep! I reached over, hit the snooze, dreading to get out of bed, and fearing to look out the window. I could hear the wind howling outside the windows. Ice covered branches making cracking sounds fighting against the wind. Freezing rain hitting the windows, sending cold...