I have my Canon camera with me most of the time when I’m out and about, which has led to some fantastic photo opportunities. Many of those pictures have been incorporated into my essays. Having owned an SLR camera since 2010, and referencing the law of large numbers, it would stand to reason that I would have witnessed at least a few unfortunate occurrences in traffic, which has been the case.
My then-partner and I were on holiday in Italy back in 2017. We had grabbed a quick lunch at Caffè Vaticano across from the Vatican City, which we were about to tour, and were waiting near steps not far from the restaurant. That lunch and a chance to sit down for a little while was a welcome break, following a hours-long walking tour we had just taken of the Roman Colosseum. We were waiting for our tour guide to arrive when I heard a thud, the sound of broken plastic skittering across the pavement, and a sea of gasps from onlookers.
The driver of this A5 Volkswagen Beetle had hit a guy on a scooter who, thankfully, was wearing his helmet. Everybody looked okay, and the biker was even standing, walking and talking before our tour guide arrived. Roman police were there very quickly. Impatient drivers behind the VW had started to honk, then finally go around the vehicles, which were situated exactly where they were immediately following impact. I remember a lot of things about those moments, but a couple of them in particular.
The first is that I felt helpless to provide any meaningful assistance, as I don’t speak Italian, even if I’m sure there were many English speakers around. I had my phone with me, but being a foreign country and with the service I had, I wouldn’t have known what number to call if this had been more serious. In the United States, we call 9-1-1. Obviously, there were other people around who could, and thankfully did, help. So, what did I do in this moment? I took a picture and said a prayer. About the latter, I’ll say that outside of a medical facility, if one is going to be involved in a traffic accident, I think the next-best place to do it might be within meters of the Pope.
My first SLR camera, my Canon EOS Rebel XS – now retired, but still in my possession.
I really am an empathic person and I care very much about the well-being of other people. I hope this comes across in my writing. It’s just that I didn’t know what else to do, and I felt that this was a noteworthy moment to document. After my shutter went click, my ex darted me a glance that was a mixture of disbelief, embarrassment, and disgust. “Joe, did you seriously just take a picture of that? How would you like it if…” I have forgotten exactly how I shut that whole thing down, which I did, though this was by no means an actual fight. It was a good day. I’ll just say that I honestly hope that I will not be a first-person witness to another passenger car-motor scooter collision, outside the Vatican, and with a significant other next to me, ever again – combining those three, disparate elements all at the same time. Am I glad I had taken this picture? Yes.
I was on a walk back home from a local beach when I heard a crash between this 2000 (or ’01) Toyota Camry and a bicycle. It was a chilling sound, the dull thud of the actual impact and light squeak of a bicycle tire against the pavement. In this case, as well as the other, I didn’t watch this sequence of events unfold exactly as they happened, even if I could hear it with my earbuds in. As I walked closer to the intersection, I could see that the bicyclist was standing up and that she and the driver were talking. They didn’t appear to be talking angrily with each other. There seems to be a fine line between watching something like this as an observer and turning into a “looky-loo” and lingering. Could my involvement in this matter have benefitted either party, given that I didn’t actually see what happened? I honestly didn’t think so. I chose, again, to snap a quick picture and be on my way – certainly not out of disrespect, but just because this is something that someone like me doesn’t see every day.
I’d like to think that if I’m ever struck by any sort of vehicle, whether as a pedestrian, bicyclist, or fellow motorist, that if I’m not okay, someone will come to my aid instead of just taking pictures of it with their phone. In both of these instances, though, it was apparent that all parties were on their feet, and more importantly, that other onlookers were already involved in making sure folks were alright before emergency personnel arrived. “Are you okay?” “Stai bene?” Here’s hoping everything turned out okay following both incidents.
Rome, Italy, Monday, November 13, 2017; and
Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois, Saturday, July 6, 2013.
Be careful out there Joe. I only say that because nowadays you never know who or what you’re going to roll up to, and the guy seen pointing a camera may stand out as a target for some over-excited wingnut in one of these situations.
I will say though that in the Camry vs. Bike photo you seem to have captured both parties being quite reasonable. The cyclist looks ok, and clearly the Camry driver is super-concerned (as should anyone be who just hit a cyclist regardless of how it happened). I think about how such things happen nearly every day here in Boston and often the outcome is much….much….worse.
Thought-provoking article as usual!
Thanks, Jeff, and point well made. I’m vigilant by nature, and I’ve learned the art of being discreet with my camera, even “sacrificing” shots I would have loved to have taken for the sake of just doing the right thing. I may later write about one such instance here involving an Eldorado.
Seeing wrecks immediately upon their happening can be rather unpleasant. I’ve witnessed a few happen, getting sprayed with hot coolant in one, but there was never a pedestrian or bicyclist involved.
What jumps out is you observed both of these incidents from the same approximate angle – and both cars were of the same color. The good news is nobody appeared to be seriously injured in either one.
Jason, like you said, I was glad that nobody seemed seriously injured, though I also realize there can be a delayed reaction before the pain kicks in.
The long-running joke in my field is “quick, get that person a business card!” A lawyer who gets there before the ambulance will be mercilessly kidded in this way by lawyer-friends.
In seriousness, I have (fortunately) avoided being among the first on scene for something like this. And if I found myself at such a scene, I have no idea what I would do. I tend to be the opposite of a reflexive picture-snapper. I am the guy who enjoys being with friends or family for a special occasion, then later wishes I had thought to take a photo or two.
JP, I know you are not the “Lionel Hutz” (Sinpsons reference) of attorneys, but I laughed at the visual of you handing out business cards at either of these intersection.
I used to be that friend who bordered on annoying to a few people in my social circles for ways having my camera on me. Later, the pendulum swung in the other direction, and I didn’t have pictures of events I wish I had documented. Now I think I’ve leveled off at a happy medium.
Joe, I understand taking pictures of accidents. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve had a fascination with auto accidents. Back then, we lived on a busy road that had more than its fair share of accidents, so I got accustomed to the sound of crashes, and could tell by the sound just what happened. Back then, I’d often run up to the crash site and take pictures… and then draw diagrams reconstructing the accident. If I’d known there a profession called “Accident Investigator,” I probably would have become one.
I was never hassled by the police in taking those pictures, though in the one fatal accident that occurred on our street, I didn’t take any, and I’m glad I didn’t. Incidentally, when I was a teenager, many of those crashes involved kids I knew (who were generally driving way too fast), and I’d later give them the pictures of their crash.
While I generally don’t take such pictures any longer, I’m still fascinated by figuring out just what happened when I come across an accident. Just two weeks ago , in fact, there was an accident in front of our house. In that case, an elderly driver likely suffered a medical emergency while driving, and drifted out of her lane, hitting the curb in the process. The low-profile tires on her Lexus blew out immediately, and her car came to rest in the middle of the road. Fortunately, no other cars were involved and EMS folks arrived within minutes. But I couldn’t resist the urge to examine the scrape-marks on the curb and try to figure out just the precise circumstances of just what happened. Old habits die hard… this stuff still fascinates me.
Eric, I totally get this and appreciate your scientific approach in wanting to analyze pictures to figure out what happened. I’ve seen action shows where I’ve seen pros do this, and it fascinates me every time.
The second house I lived in was at an intersection that for whatever reason was prone to at least one accident, like, every other year. I’m mentally banking one make and model to write up later that I remember being involved in one such collision.
Joseph, I can relate to being apprehensive to step into a situation when you don’t know the language. Although I’ve now lived in the Netherlands for 6 years, my Dutch still sucks. Since most of the locals speak very good English, it is hard for English-speaking “buitenlanders” to learn Dutch. I’ve come upon a couple minor accidents here where either I stood back and let others assist, or was helping but was glad a Dutch person was there to do the talking. In the moment my thinking is that the person needing helped is in a bit of shock, therefore will not be helped by someone barking English, or garbled Dutch, at them. As a matter of safety and to be better able to help people, it is a goal of mine to really improve my Dutch this year.
When I was going to college in Fort Collins years ago, I was hit on my bicycle by a lady in an Eclipse. I wasn’t hurt, but instead of asking me “are you OK?”, her first words were, in a nasty tone, “what did you do to my car?”
Corey, I have been thinking about using the Babbel app to learn (or try) a language for all the time I spend commuting when that’s the case (like today).
And the Eclipse driver’s comment would have had me turning the other way to take a few deep breaths. Glad you were okay.
It almost amazes me that in both of these cases it seems those involved handled the situation without rampaging at each other. That’s pretty rare in today’s world.
I’m most certainly not someone who snaps photos randomly. I often find myself wishing I had shot something, but it rarely occurs to me to do so in the moment. In recent years I’ve trained myself to at least use my iPhone’s camera to document things I hope to remember for future reference. This just means that I have a photo app full of pics of shoes I found in a store that I liked, meals I’ve prepared that I want to make again, labels and/or price tags on products I come across that I might intend to purchase later, restaurant menus that have items I’m interested in trying another time, and so on. A future anthropologist would be completely befuddled coming across my bizarre collection, peppered with photos of pets, both mine and random others. He or she might imagine a lost society where the domesticated animals have taken over all manner of commerce. I have very few photos containing actual people, oddly. Frequently, when a photo posted to the CC Cohort is featured on the site I’m reminded of a time when I last saw a similar car, only to kick myself once again for never thinking to shoot them when I see them. I’ve just settled into accepting that I’m clearly just “Not That Guy”.
Like you, I also use my phone’s camera to “bookmark” things I want to remember. It can be so much easier than even typing on a “qwerty” on a virtual notepad. Run ing to the store? Snap a picture of the empty box. Done.
Last summer, we were having supper outside when we heard the squeal of tires and a loud bang. We went running to see what had happened.
A young man in a Challenger had accelerated with alacrity (note tire marks) and encountered a telephone pole. He and his passenger were unharmed. We called emergency services and waited with them.
The passenger described how they’d hit the pole and her boyfriend leaped out. (Good self-preservation instincts, zero points for chivalry.) She was still sitting in the car watching as the telephone pole toppled toward her and fell on the roof.
My photo isn’t as clear as it might be as I retired a discrete distance away before pointing my phone at the crash scene.
This is why there are no Challenger convertibles. The roof is very robust on those cars.
There was a young man in a Challenger,
Who did his best to impress his passenger…
…on hitting a pole, he cursed on his soul,
and fled before having to marry her….
Boom Boom!
That looks gnarly. This Challenger makes a good argument for me to shut my yap when it comes to any negative critique about the size of modern cars as necessitated by safety equipment and features.
This will eventually be described in a chat room for young women called “My Last Date With the Loser.”
I have unfortunately witnessed two car versus pushbike accidents a little too closely – I was on the bike!
Weirdly, both occurred when I was at an intersection and using the pedestrian crossing, with the green (German) or white (USA) light in my favor. Even more oddly, both drivers that hit me were 83 years old. The first one tried to drive over me and dragged me under his vehicle for quite some way. I remember looking directly at the front tire inches from my head and thinking I was toast. Fractured C1 and 2 vertibrae and head impact severe enough to loosen the lens in one eye were the result. He refused to call an ambulance or police, too after I had dragged myself to the verge. My bike being wedged under his car stopped him escaping though. Very expensive Votec/Porsche MTB trashed unfortunately.
The American motorist was at least polite enough to stop after T-boning me – schlepped off in ambulance out for the count – concussed and badly bruised, but helmet saved me from worse.
Both are ironic, given that I used to perform all kinds of tricks on 2 wheels and regularly rode motorcycles on track and Autobahnen at high speed.
The funny thing is that one does remember every detail before being unconscious – it really does seem to happen in slow motion!
Scared of bikes? No, but increased my life insurance to make sure my family is okay in the event of further “incidents”.
Huey, you just perfectly described two perfect nightmares. I’m so glad your injuries weren’t more serious. Wow.
I’m that person that might have been conditioned after the second such incident to give bicycles a break for a minute. Good for you.
Thanks Joe – a sensible person probably would!
I like two wheels too much, though.
It has, however turned me into a helmet evangelist….
I’ve called 999 for road accidents twice, both motorcyclists who’d taken tumbles, one on his own and one avoiding a car he’d missed when he looked.
Quite happy to not to have to do it again, though both were basically OK (if a broken leg can be OK).
But who isn’t going to stop to help if they can?
Once had to call 999 for the same accident twice – Fiesta on its roof on a country bend in deepest Scotland in deepest November, and rain tipping down. After the Police hadn’t turned up after 45 minutes, I redialled – ‘yes, you’re on the list’.
Fortunately, the ambulance was faster, and the lucky driver had just cuts and bruises and a bit of a headache even if his car was a bit crushed.
So, Roger, I’m going to remember that if I’m in England, it’s 999 for emergencies. Thanks!
In your photo of the Camry vs. bike collision nobody needs to be told which of the persons is the driver and which is the rider.
There are no bicyclists who have the physique of that car driver. It is too late now but he should have been riding for decades before. I hope she’ll continue riding for decades more.
I do hope she had no aftereffects. Just the other day, I was looking at a snow-covered street and wondered how bike riders do it in the winter, which I have seen. It was in that moment that I was reminded not to take my public transit pass for granted, as not everyone has one of these.
The emergency number throughout Europe is 112.
Excellent – thanks.
Interesting essay. I don’t blame you a bit for taking pictures in unfortunate but not tragic situations. Even if they had been tragic, there would be a case for taking pictures depending on if you would be in a position to provide other critically needed assistance. You (and all CC writers/photographers) could be considered some kind of journalist. Your role, not just with CC but one you assume in life generally, is to document things in photography and print. You even carry a high quality camera routinely. Sometimes documenting has immediate practical benefit (what if the driver had taken off after your photo, but before police arrived?), sometimes it’s just keeping an historical record. As to history, I am captivated by very old pictures of mundane events. I would absolutely be interested in the exact same type of photos you took, but from 100 years ago.
I am reminded of the movie 9/11, the one where the French brothers are making a documentary about a firefighter and accidently end up capturing the first plane hitting the WTC, then providing an inside view of the events after. There is a scene where one of the brothers is trying to get down to the site and is blocked by the police. He says he has a letter from the fire commissioner giving him permission to film at emergency scenes. The cop (rudely, but not necessarily inappropriately in the moment) says, “take your letter and your camera and get the hell out of here!” What the cop and others didn’t realize at the time, is that the videographer and photographer was filling one of the most important roles of anybody there that day.
Jon, thank you for this. You’re perception is accurate – I’m all about historical documentation in my photography, and I try to incorporate what I’ve learned about what makes a picture good or better in documenting everything. One of my goals is to take pictures of the caliber that I would want to look at in a book while sitting down in my living room, now or years from now.
Fascinating about those French brothers and the timing of everything, tragic though the circumstances.
I appreciate your attitude Dennis ~ it’s very important and used to be the norm in America .
-Nate