An Accident in Portuguese

Our girls, Stacy and Nicole, were able to be with us for Christmas. We enjoyed each moment of their two week stay, except perhaps one. Denice, Stacy, Nicole and I were leaving the arts and crafts Meca of Sao Paulo called Embu when a heavy rains started. After only about 5 minutes of driving we hit marble sized hail pummeling our Renault, Clio four door car that Pan American Christian Academy (PACA) provides for us. We pulled off the road and sat under a tree while deciding the best way to get home.

After a few wrong turns and a little luck we found ourselves on the Marginal. The Marginal is a seven lane freeway that runs through Sao Paulo going North and South. With rain coming down in sheets we were trying to verify that we were going South instead of North as I switched lanes to my left so that we could see around a truck that was in front of us. As I switched I checked my rearview mirror and when I looked forward there was a little red hatchback car stopped in my lane. I slammed on the brakes to no avail. We slid into the hatchback. I remember the back window of their car coming toward me. It hit my window and then fell to my left. At the same time Stacy yells "keep looking straight." At about this time another car hits us from the back. Denice and Stacy were asking if everyone was alright. I adamantly said yes, and then turned my attention to Nicole who was breathing heavily. We looked at her as she gasped, "I can't hardly breath." Stacy said, "well loosen your seat belt." She did and she could breath again.

PACA provided very specific instructions in case of an accident. I got out my cell phone and started calling the superintendent while I watch five adults and one baby emerge from the red car in front. As rain was pouring in my window the fellow that hit us from behind screamed in our window. Is everyone alright in Portuguese. When we said yes he continued to yell in the window, in Portuguese. I wanted to tell him that I am on the phone but the superintendent didn't answer. I then called Ken Fast while Denice is saying "I think he wants our phone number." We gave him our phone number while he is still hollering in our window. By this time a group of people had gathered around our car window saying "Noa fala Portugues" or they don't speak Portuguese. Ken agreed to come and get us. I then called Donna Linda, the school secretary who lives next to Ken Fast. Linda's husband Lazarus and Ken came to rescue us.

We figured out that I pushed the red hatchback into a car who pushed another car into the car in front of him. Another car hit us from behind. A five car pile up. The CET were the first ones on the scene. The CET are the traffic control experts of Sao Paulo. After they decided that everyone was alright. They waited on the ambulance. The ambulance came and parked in our lane. Then we sat there, in the rain. One hour passed, we were still in the same spot. Another 15 minutes passes and the guy behind us decides to move his car to the right shoulder of the road. We cautioned the CET to make him stay. They assured us, in Portuguese, that he was just moving his car out of traffic. Another 15 minutes elapses, we are still there with cars and motorcycles zipping past us on both sides and Brazilians standing unprotected in our lane. Then the very front car decides to leave. He did. Finally the CET blocks off the inside lane and our lane of this seven lane expressway. We determine that we can safely get out of the car and do.

By this time the ambulance has left and a tow truck backs up to the car in front of us. We wait and watch while numerous discussions are taking place. Pretty soon the CET stops all seven lanes of traffic and the little hatchback spits and sputters its way to the shoulder of the road. Once on the shoulder the tow truck moves to the shoulder. Then the CET asks if I think my car will start. I said, "I don't know" but I can try. It started. They then stopped all seven lanes of traffic once more and I drove my car to the shoulder.

Once on the shoulder we stood some more. Then the Sao Paulo police arrive. He asks for my documents. I gave him everything that I had including a photo copy of my passport, International driver license, car registration, and my Oklahoma driver license. Then a fight broke out about 200 yards up the expressway and he left. I asked one of the CET's who spoke broken English what the officer did with my documents. He assured me that everything was alright and went and asked another officer. This other officer comes over to me and asks more questions. He wanted my address, my father's name, why I was in Brazil, where I worked and the list goes on and on. I then told the CET guy who spoke broken English that I had a friend coming to pick us up. Ken Fast and Lazarus arrived shortly.

The next thing I know the officer is asking for the keys to my car and told me to get in the back seat. Lazarus and I were going to be driven to the police station in my wrecked car by the police officer. Everyone involved in the accident was to meet at the police station. Lazarus asked if Denice, Nicole and Stacy could go home with Ken Fast. This was allowed and we took off on a 30 minute drive to the Sao Paulo Police station. At the station we met a man who jumped out of a tow truck and told us that he is working for our insurance company. He wanted to take our car, but the officer would not let him until the official police report was filed. Once inside the police station the reporting officer leaves to go to the hospital to talk directly to the doctor who examined one of the ladies who was in the accident, he evidently could not talk to him by phone.

Here we sit with the three parties that were involved in an accident that I caused. Just the right ingredients for tempers to flair. Lazarus was great. He talked to each person at the police station as if they were long lost friends while we were waiting for the policeman to return from his trip to the hospital. At about 11:30 pm the officer returned and started filling out another report. He asked me all the same questions again, asked how the accident happened and asked about the car that hit me from behind. This car left the accident scene and no one had heard from him.

At about midnight the officer said that we could all leave and that our tow truck driver could load up the car. As we walked outside the tow truck driver was examining my car, taking numbers off if it and taking pictures. He was filling out an accident report for the insurance company much like an insurance agent would do in the states. After asking me numerous questions he said that he was done and Lazarus and I jumped into a taxi and made our way home. We arrived home at about 12:30 am, about 6 1/2 hours after the accident occurred.