Truscifi Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 I'm so upset. I was on the way home from the library with the boys and saw a minivan pulled over on the side of the road. A woman got out of the passenger and ran away from the van, then a man got out of the driver side, chased her, carried her back to the van with her struggling the whole way, and pushed her into the van. I had pulled up behind them to see if they needed help. When I saw what was happening I locked the door, started honking the horn, and called 911. The man stood there yelling at the woman for a minute, then turned and started walking toward my car, yelling for me to mind my own f-ing business. I guess he saw that I was already on the phone, because he turned around and got in the van and drove off. I was able to give the 911 operator the color and make of the car and descriptions of the people, but I didn't get the license plate unfortunately. I wish I had thought to take a pic of the van and the people before I started dialing, but I didn't. I'm trying to think if there is anything else I could or should have done in case something like this ever happens again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: Taking a picture of the van would have been great but you did what you could in a very tense, unpredictable situation. It sounds like things happened very quickly and you had your kids to think of. You tried to help, and hopefully did. That is more than a lot of people would do. 20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthwestMom Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 OMG, that sounds completely nuts! I am glad you called 911 immediately, I think that was the best thing to do. Please update if you hear anything more. I hope that woman is safe! 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 Wow, that must have been so scary!! I think calling 911 immediately was more important than taking photos first. 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mabelen Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 Don't torment yourself. You did great under the circumstances. How unsettling! You did as much as anyone could have. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truscifi Posted March 10, 2015 Author Share Posted March 10, 2015 Thanks. I am trying to let it go. But I haven't heard back from the sheriff's office, which probably means they didn't find the people. :sad: My stomach is still in knots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 They would not have contacted you unless they needed more information. 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trulycrabby Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 You might have saved a life. :grouphug: 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasmama Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 (((hugs))) What a terrible trauma. You did all you could in a difficult situation, with no training, with your children present. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umsami Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 I think what you did is awesome, actually. Calling 911 was exactly the right thing to do. A lot of people would do nothing. You gave them a description, too. Good job! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 I think you handled the situation perfectly. It was very caring and brave of you to try to help. :hurray: 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: how awful. I think you did everything that you could have possibly done in such a short amount of time. it is always easy to reflect back and wish that there were other things that could have been done. You did everything that you could. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsuga Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 Oh my god! You did the right thing and no, I don't think there's a lot more you could have done. In hindsight, taking a picture of the van would be smart but I for one keep forgetting I have a camera on my phone. :( Like, even when I have a long time to think about it. I am so sorry you went through that. I'm thinking of that couple. What a nut! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AimeeM Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 There is no use beating yourself over what more you could have done. You did the very best you could for such an awful situation - and so much more than anybody else did. Nobody, put in such a situation, can think of everything - I would have been so scattered, and anyone would be plagued with "what more they could have done". You did a wonderful thing, trying to help. Bless you! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 You did great! And by posting here about it a lot of people are going to think about what to do in a startling situation. :grouphug: 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LMD Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 Wow, I think you are so brave for stopping & honking! And as someone who grew up in a violent home, thank you for caring and helping, you did great! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 You did *something*, and that is what's important. They may not be able to call you back and tell you anything, so don't assume they didn't find the people. That must've been scary. :grouphug: 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 YOU DID GREAT!! I feel like I want to thank you for doing what you did!! I'm think it could have potentially been dangerous for you to do much else. I'm sure you tried getting the license plate, but you did the next best thing in a situation like that. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truscifi Posted March 10, 2015 Author Share Posted March 10, 2015 Hopefully the deputies did find them, but just didn't need anything from me. I talked to Brotherman a little about it, about trying to help but doing so in a safe way, about not ignoring it because that is almost the same as condoning it. I think he understood, but he didn't say much. He tends to take a while to ponder things. Dh says I should leave it alone, but I wish he would talk to me about it. He just doesn't process things out loud the way I do. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto10blessings Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 You did great. Really. I hope they were able to find the van. How scary. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truscifi Posted March 10, 2015 Author Share Posted March 10, 2015 I was trying to like all the comments but I ran out of likes. So thanks for being here. I really appreciate you ladies. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMJ Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 You CALLED. That's what counts. It's better to forget to take a picture and make the call quickly, than to be so busy taking pictures that you forget to (or end up being prevented from) making the call to 911. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlett Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 Wow. That is crazy . And yes you did all you could. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigs Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: You did great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 I agree you did great. Really really great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChocolateReignRemix Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 In a high stress situation? You did great, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 I said a prayer for that lady. It doesn't sound like she's in a good situation... Glad you were there and tried to help. At the VERY least, perhaps that brute will think twice about what he's doing and perhaps the lady will realize that what she is enduring is not normal nor accepted behavior. Perhaps not too (sigh). Like others, I hope the police were able to find them, but even then, it's not pretty. Many battered women won't press charges. I'll stop rambling. I think you did a great job under the circumstances and I can understand your feelings now (even if your hubby doesn't). 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soror Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 (hugs) how awful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 Just chiming in to say you did right. Calling 911 first was the right thing to do, without a doubt. Taking time to snap photos first would have delayed the call which would have delayed police action. It is hard to think of what to do in situations like this, particularly when our kids are with us and we have to protect them. I don't know anyone who doesn't come out of a situation like that with some doubts about their performance under pressure. I hope you are able to let it go. :grouphug: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaKim Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 Ditto what everybody else said. If there ever is a next time, though, I think the license number might be the most important thing to get, if possible. The fact that he knew somebody saw had to be a good thing though, I'd think. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emzhengjiu Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 You did great in a stressful and scary situation! So many people today would have driven by without a second thought. Prayers for you and especially for the woman involved. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5of5 Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 If you still don’t think you did enough, consider that the man could have had a gun, and things could have gone extremely badly for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truscifi Posted March 10, 2015 Author Share Posted March 10, 2015 If you still don’t think you did enough, consider that the man could have had a gun, and things could have gone extremely badly for you. I did consider that. It is why I didn't get out of the car. Thanks for the reminder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMJ Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 Everyone, please let's stop with the "next time" thinking. For one, the priority is to get/stay safe FIRST, call 911 SECOND, consider any other action third. Nice as a photo or good look at the license plate may be, it would not have helped for her to get those if it cost her the chance to get/stay safe or call 911. Hindsight discussion of imaginary next times doesn't help keep the prioritization straight when the next emergency comes -- instead it confuses the mind and encourages freezing up or acting in the wrong order. You must stay or get safe FIRST, as safe as you can reasonably get, so you don't become part of the problem. If you aren't safe you probably won't be able to complete a call for help -- keep that in mind. AFTER you get to safety you call for help as quickly as you can, because every second counts. Don't take the time to first try to take pictures or get a better view, because this gives the perp or any accomplices you might not see time to reach you and deal with you. OP did right to stay safe and call. She should have done exactly what she did even if she didn't have any kids in the car. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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