OPINION: Accident victim's father thankful for all who helped
I would like to thank Katheryn Houghton for reporting the story on my son and the Daily Inter Lake’s employee Brandon Floyd regarding his accident this past Monday night. Brandon has really enjoyed his position at the Inter Lake and hopes to return after what will be a lengthy healing process.
Monday evening, the night of the accident, I stayed late at work as I was taking Tuesday off for my birthday. Living west of town in Smith Valley I would normally go home via the bypass, however I had to visit family east of town on Montana 35, which then had me traveling on West Idaho. In front of the Town Pump just before the fairgrounds I watched the lights of a police vehicle go on and the officer speed away, thinking to myself, “somebody is in trouble for speeding.”
As I passed through the intersection of North Meridian and U.S. 2, I saw the lights of the police cruiser in the turn lane in front of McDonald’s, then I saw the mangled remains of a black bicycle and instinctively I said, “Siri, text Brandon Floyd, Brandon you need to call your father now!” As I approached the scene I saw what seemed like a dozen people surrounding what I presumed was the bicyclist; however, I could not see who it was. I don’t know why I didn’t pull over — hopeful it was not my son, not wanting to be a rubber-necker and clog up the area…
On my seven-minute commute from the scene to home, I did not receive a phone call and my concern began to grow. When I got in the house I reported what I had seen to my wife, who is a volunteer firefighter for Smith Valley and asked if there was anyone she could contact to confirm IT WAS NOT BRANDON.
She first tried to reassure me that Brandon was not diligent at texting right back, and that he rarely answers his phone if he is working, but suggested contacting police dispatch so I made the call.
“I know you can’t tell me who it is, but can you tell me it’s not my son Brandon Floyd? He rides a black bicycle and he has not called me back.” The dispatcher said, “I will have an officer contact you.” I hung up the phone and within two minutes the phone rings. It was the dispatcher. “Mr. Floyd, it is your son Brandon and they have transported him to Kalispell Regional.” The call no parent wants to receive.
Had I not stayed late at work, had I not went to visit family and then stayed and socialized for 15 minutes, who knows when we may have found out about Brandon’s accident. We pulled into KRMC as the ambulance was driving away.
I would like to personally thank everyone that was surrounding my son as he lay on the ground. There were so many of you. Though people do selfless acts all of the time and never expect anything for it, to the individual who placed their sweatshirt under my son’s head never expecting to get it back, I would like to return it and give you a big hug. To the individuals who witnessed the event and reported it so that one of the two vehicles allegedly responsible could be stopped, I thank you. And of course to the exceptional staff of KRMC emergency/trauma and floor 3, your professionalism and passion for what you do is exemplary. Thanks for putting up with the father who handles stress by joking way too much.
Finally to everyone in the Flathead Valley, use hands-free phones when driving, or else put the phones down, turn them off and focus on the job of driving. There is no phone call, no text that important. Regardless of what happened in this particular accident, let’s all make an effort to be more careful and cautious when on the roads. It will save lives.
Floyd is a resident of Smith Valley.