Brit Visit: Complete with Calls to the Police!

We've been enjoying a visit from our good friends from England, RJ & Car (husband & wife).  Royal served in the Royal Marines with RJ (he is still in) and the four of us have been through weddings, kids and Afghanistan together.  The first week they were here was spent seeing the local sites as they are hoping to move to The States someday. 

This past weekend was the "big city" trip: Fort Worth, Texas baby!  We spent the night at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel and the next day hit up Sundance Square, the Stockyards, Sam Moon and Cabelas. Great, great time.  Our last stop was Central Market.  The highlight of the trip if I do say so myself. 

For whatever reason I'm always out of the vehicle first and waiting for everyone else.  As I'm standing there looking back at my three compadres, a car screeches right next to me and speeds off down the parking lot.  I simultaneously jump and turn towards the noise.  There, almost right next to me, I see a nice looking lady in her early 50s. She's yelling "They took my keys!  They stole my purse!"

The car had slowed to a stop, opened their door, grabbed her purse and took off.  We tried to get a license plate number but it was too far away for my eyes and my group was slower to realize what was going on as they were further away.  Royal called the police on his cell phone and I took down some notes for her from another witness.  We got her back up to the store in the shade (I don't know if you know this, but Texas is HOT in the summertime!) and she called her Mother - the only number she could remember from her now stolen mobile.  Her purse had everything: car keys, garage door opener, wallet with cards and $160.00, cell phone... everything.  Even worse, her husband was out of state. 

Royal asked an employee if they had security and the person replied, "Yes, after 5:00pm."  It was 4:45pm.  Apparently nothing happens at the store before then!  Another lady came up to us as we were waiting to see if we were needed for anything else and mentioned that she had seen the car driving up and down the parking lot, but assumed they were trying to find a parking place, not scoping everyone out.  Central Market is a bit of an upscale grocery store and to be quite honest, most of the vehicles there are nice.  The people that robbed the lady were in an old, beat up, dirty car.  Stereotyping isn't the best and definitely not always correct, but I've learned that it's sometimes necessary (not just from this incident, but others as well). 

So we go off and shop and my lovely friend Car takes a gazillion photos of the market.  I'm all for it, obviously! We purchased treats and took off for home.  We were on the highway just past a city on our way home when we hear Royal say,
"Holy shit!"
Our heads snap up and we witness a horrific one vehicle accident.  A vehicle in the fast lane blew a tire which kicked them across the slow lane (in front of a semi truck!) to the guard rail.  The vehicle hit the guard rail and skids against it about 6-10 feet -- then somehow the front of the vehicle catches the guard rail which flips them up and over the rail and they come down upside-down and skid along the grass.  All within 3 seconds, I swear.  It was horrible. 

Well, I've got a former Royal Marine and a current Royal Marine in my vehicle and I kid you not, I've never seen them move so fast and so efficiently.  No hesitation whatsoever.  It was damn impressive.  As Royal hops out of our truck he hits our OnStar emergency button.  Now, I don't believe my British readers will be familiar with OnStar (at least, our friends weren't), but it's incredible, really, click the link and take a look. 

While the men headed to help, I spoke with the OnStar dispatcher.  She knew exactly where we were (GPS) and sent emergency services immediately.  She even asked if I wanted her to stay on the line until the ambulance reached us (I declined) and said, "Thank you Mrs. ________ for being good Samaritans, we really appreciate it."  Emergency services were on site within 5-7 minutes.  By then my two amazing guys had pulled the two people from the vehicle, checked their injuries, turned off the key, searched the backseat for kids or pets AND were keeping the crowd away.  There was also a nurse that had stopped and checked them out. 

The couple were very, very lucky.  They were both wearing seat belts and were conscious.  The worst injury (on scene at least) were cuts on the female passenger's arm.  It could have been so, so, so much worse.  When telling the story to my parents, they asked what kind of vehicle it was.  I said it was an older model car -- my husband jumped in and corrected me -- it WAS AN SUV!!  It was that crushed in from the top I couldn't tell!  Royal said the roof was barely six inches from the steering wheel.  Not only that, but if they'd been stopped in front of the semi...

Those two stories happened within an hour and a half of each other.  Afterward Car pipes up from the backseat: "You know they say these things happen in threes..."  Definitely sliced through the tension!  Our friends were very impressed with OnStar and our emergency services - they were quick, competent and friendly. 

It was a great weekend and I'm glad we were able to help.  Thankfully, everything turned out okay in the end!

Comments

[Pat]

Trust then to pick a helpless woman.

[Pat]

Oh I nearly missed the rest of the story. What an outing. I hope the third thing doesn't happen. If anything like that does happen how great to have two Marines there.
Do they hire themselves out?:)

[Kath]

Haha, yup a lot happened that day. So far, so good on the 3rd thing - I think we're in the clear! Thank goodness.
Hmm, what a good idea! But for you and yours, give us a call anytime and it's free of charge ;-)

[Fix4RSO]

wow! definitely one crazy day!!!

i'm glad you all are doing well, and happy you are keeping up on your blog (i, however, have slipped away for quite some time) ...

take care, and God Bless!!!

[Kath]

HEY! It's great to hear from you again! I've hit a stumbling block with my writing, but hopefully inspiration will strike more frequently. I hope you and your family are well as well ;-)