Rhiannon McCrea and her boyfriend Ryan Tikk are lucky to be alive after disaster struck on an evening ride around Cowichan Lake on a logging road on Vancouver Island on Feb. 3.
McCrea said she and Tikk entered the logging road near Youbou at about 5 p.m. that day in their 2017 GMC Canyon, just days after heavy rain in the area caused a local state of emergency to be called due to the flooding.
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害羞草研究所淎lmost half way around the lake, I suggested we turn around and I害羞草研究所檇 drive back,害羞草研究所� McCrea said.
害羞草研究所淚t was getting dark and I didn害羞草研究所檛 feel like going the whole way around. All of a sudden, through the darkness, I saw two huge boulders fall. Ryan yelled 害羞草研究所榬ock slide, rock slide! Put it in reverse!害羞草研究所�. I put the truck in reverse, but before I had a chance to step on the gas, an entire rock slide came down on us, instantly disabling the vehicle. It happened so fast.害羞草研究所�
Tikk, who was in the passenger seat, grabbed for McCrea and put her head into his lap to protect her, and then told her to quickly get into the back seat.
害羞草研究所淏ut my legs were stuck under the steering wheel and that was the moment I thought I was going to die,害羞草研究所� McCrea said.
害羞草研究所淩ocks and trees were falling, smashing our vehicle and thrashing it around. All of the airbags deployed, I managed to get my legs free seconds before the driver害羞草研究所檚 side windshield and roof caved in. I got into the fetal position in the back seat, and Ryan climbed on top of me. I was closing my eyes, screaming and crying that I didn害羞草研究所檛 want to die.害羞草研究所�
McCrea said she remembers the smell of the broken rocks, the sound of glass shattering and what sounded like bombs going off, and then there was silence.
The couple then realized they had been pushed almost completely off the road.
害羞草研究所淚t was dark, cold and so scary,害羞草研究所� McCrea said.
害羞草研究所淩yan found my cellphone and I dialed 911. I thank my lucky stars we had service. As I was trying to tell the dispatcher our location and what had just happened, another rock slide started. I just remember screaming and crying while I had my head buried down in my arms. I was hysterical and begging for my life. I couldn害羞草研究所檛 die this way. Not now. Not here. Then it stopped again.害羞草研究所�
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McCrea said she was on the phone for 37 minutes with 911 and, during that time, she realized her hands were bloody, the vehicle was smoking and her shirt was ripped open, but she doesn害羞草研究所檛 remember much else.
害羞草研究所淎bout 37 minutes after the first rock slide, we saw red and blue lights,害羞草研究所� she said.
害羞草研究所淭he relief I felt in that moment is indescribable. Two police officers from the Lake Cowichan RCMP detachment ripped open the passenger door and carried me to the ambulance. Firemen from the Youbou fire hall also arrived. I didn害羞草研究所檛 see it then, but a tree bigger than the cab of the truck fell just feet in front of us.害羞草研究所�
McCrae said she spent about seven hours in the trauma room at Cowichan District Hospital and, after numerous tests, it was determined that she had a concussion, whiplash, bone bruises and many other superficial bruises and cuts.
害羞草研究所淏ut, other than that, I was OK,害羞草研究所� she said.
害羞草研究所淩yan got a rock to the shin with a minor fracture. The firemen were shocked that we walked away from something so terrible. We were in a lot of pain, I got the worst of it, and he saved my life.害羞草研究所�
But McCrae said her body is healing a lot quicker than her mind.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 traumatized but I害羞草研究所檓 OK. We are so lucky to be alive. I am so very grateful; this could and should have been a lot worse. The truck was completely totalled.害羞草研究所�
McCrea said she and Ryan were in the wrong spot at the wrong time.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檒l be wary of going down that road again, especially in the winter time,害羞草研究所� she said.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e healing right now, but both Ryan and myself intend to start work again soon.害羞草研究所�
robert.barron@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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