Amateur Radio

2009-06-01-00-00

Log has not been updated after I moved. There was not alot of activity for a while, but now I am a member of ARES and RACES for the city so I am a bit more active.

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2008-05-10-22-15

On our way to Wal-Mart we came upon an accident on the service road of the Dallas North Tollway near Arapaho Road. It was dark, and the only warning we got was some guy waving a very small LED flashlight. There was a fair amount of traffic on the service road, so we couldn't see him until we had slowed down to avoid the cars infront of us.

The wife and I decided to stop and lend a hand as we had our wands in the trunk. After about 5 minutes Fire arrived on scene, and by then traffic had started to backup. Another 10 minutes for EMS, then a few more minutes for the first Police. Traffic was picking up as the Taste of Addison festival was starting to wind down, and cars were looking to get on the turnpike via this service road.

We ended up directing traffic for just over two hours as the accident took up two of three southbound lanes. The Dallas PD seemed very appreciatave of our help which was enough for us.

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2007-08-11-19-58

On my way home I saw two vehicles in the middle of the road after a collision at 81st and Sheridan. There were two people standing by the vehicles which were blocking parts of three lanes. I stopped to see if everyone was alright.

The occupants were alright, as it was not a bad hit, but they didn't know who to call. I called TPD Non-Emergency and reported the accident. I confirmed with them there were no injuries and no leaking fluids.

After I got off the phone I took a couple pictures of the scene. Then I asked the drivers if they would mind moving their cars out of the road and into the parking lot, as it was a traffic hazard.

Half an hour later I called TDP again and asked the status of our officer to write the report. I had already explained to the older driver that they could agree to settle it themselves I would cancel the offier, but he wanted the report just in-case. TPD said they would send someone right then, and that officer arrived eight minutes later.

I showed the officer the pictures so he knew what happened, and I explained that I had them move the vehicles out of the road as it was a hazard. He was very thankful for the help.

Time on scene, 55 minutes.

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2007-08-10-22-22

After visiting a friend and his new baby at the hospital, I came upon a car with it's hazzards on in the right lane of Eastbound 51st (east of Sheridan). As I got closer I saw a second vehicle off the right side of the road, over the curb, with a puddle of liquid underneath it.

At first glance I thought it was just a stalled vehicle and I was going to help them push it out of the road, but when I saw the second I knew there had been an accident, so I stopped to see if I could help.

Both cars were full of people, who were mainly standing around their own vehicle. I asked if anyone was hurt, and both cars said no, but the second said the first might be. The second car also said they had called the police and ambulance, both of which were on the way.

About 5 minutes after I got there TFD arrived on scene, followed closely by TPD. I met the officer at the back of my car and told him who I knew to be a witness, and the rest of the little info I knew.

He went to start checking on people as I got in my car and left when traffic permitted. Time on scene, 8 minutes.

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2007-07-23-19-15

Having just left another scene, we came upon another two vehicles on the side of the road. These were on US169 just south of the OK51 interchange.

Apparently the lug-nuts on the front right tire came off, and the vehicle was disabled. There were two vehicles on scene, and we didn't really get a full idea of what was going on as TPD arrived within two minutes of us.

Since TPD was on scene, we started home... again. Time on scene 4 minutes.

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2007-07-23-19-00

While driving into Tulsa on OK51, we came upon a flatbed semi and a mini-van on the shoulder of the highway with their flashers on. We stopped to investigate. Location was OK51 at Garnett Road.

The semi had blown a trailer tire, and was waiting on the call-back from the repair company, and the mini-van also had a flat tire. That driver was waiting on her husband to arrive to change the tire.

As both vehicles were on the sholder of an exit ramp, we decided to head home. Time on scene, 8 minutes.

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2007-06-30-20-30

On our way home from my sister's place, we saw two motorists who seemed to be having trouble just west of 41st street on Interstate 44 in Tulsa. We stopped by to see what the problem was, and discovered that the lead vehicle (green ford van) had been hit by a car while trying to get onto the highway.

I decided to stay a while, to wait for police to arrive.

A TPD officer drove by, and the two drivers flagged him down. Turns out, he was off duty and couldn't log into his computer, but could determine that it was Oklahoma Highway Patrol juristiction, as it was on the highway. He called that in to dispatch, and within about 8 minutes, OHP was on scene.

I left pretty soon after that. Time on scene was about twenty minutes.

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2007-06-02-07-00

All day I volunteered to help with the Tulsa Tough bike ride. I started the day as the counter at Split 3, and then became the tail-end, and worked as a SAG until the last rider gave it up around Seven PM.

This was an all day event, and I started around 7am, and finished after 7pm.

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2007-06-01-19-04

I was going to get a clicker counter at Academy when I came upon a semi truck on the side of the road. He was stopped on the 71st street bridge Southbound on US169. I had first seen a pickup with trailer helping a PT Cruiser that had a flat tire, but by the time I got back, the Semi was the only one there.

I stopped and helped him fix his tarp for about fifteen minutes.

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2007-05-08-19-02

On my way home from pickup up my watch at the repairshop, I saw a woman trying to change her tire on the side of US169 right in the intersection of OK51. I stopped and helped her change the tire.

The tire was worn heavilly on one side, which suggests bad allignment. I told her this, and made sure she knew the spare was only to get her home and then to the repair shop.

Time on scene, 10 minutes.

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2007-04-29-17-00

While out driving, I noticed a large bag of something on OK 51 East at I-44. It was in the left lane, and was causing a hazard.

I circled around, put on my traffic vest, and proceded onto the highway to remove the item. I stopped on the inside sholder and got out to move the bag, which turned out to be a pillow.

As I was walking from the vehicle to the bag, a Tulsa PD car stopped next to my car to block the left lane. He told me he was just coming to get that. We shared a laugh, and went on our way.

Time on scene, 2 minutes.

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2007-04-14-18-40

I was in Dallas, Texas for an interview, and while starting to head out of town, I was nearly involved in a pile-up. Traffic on I-635 just screeched to a hault. Sure enough, about 10 cars in front of me, there was an accident. I pulled up and threw on my lights to alert the other cars, as this was an 8 line highway.

Everyone was alright, and the authorities had been called, so I decided we needed these vehicles out of the road, as it was causing more of a hazzard. The first car was able to start and drive to the sholder, but the rear car could not. So, I pushed the vehicle and got it rolling down hill, while the driver steered it to the sholder.

It took an hour for the 'First Responders' to start arriving.

This was on I-635 East Bound between Colt and Hillcrest road. Vehicles involved were a Pearl Mitsubishi (533KKP) and a blue/green Daewoo (663FWH). Time on scene, a little over an hour.

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2007-03-06-18-48

After dinner, the wife and I were on the way to our storage, and came upon a Jeep that was broken down. It was in the north bound slow lane at highway 51 and 9th street in Broken Arrow.

We stopped to alert traffic to the vehicle's presence, as there was still alot of traffic, and that lane is usually used to get onto the highway into Tulsa.

The driver had already called AAA before we arrived, and AAA was due to arrive around 19:25, so we decided to wait.

Finally, around 19:50 the driver got ahold of Storey Wrecker, who had been assigned the tow, and was informed it would be another hour and a half.

At this point we decided to push the vehicle backwards down the hill, nearly a block and a half, to get it off of the roadway, as it was going to be too long of a wait.

Apparently the Jeep had an Oxygen sensor failure, and the driver was going to call her sister who lived in town to come get her.

Time on scene, one hour 10 minutes.

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2007-02-22-15-28

I was on the way from DHL to a prospective job interview, and came upon this vehicle that was apparently broke down at OK51 East bound @ 51st. I stopped to see if I could be of assistance.

It appeared to me that they had a hole in the radiator, and the car was not going to be drivable, and I thus informed the two people that they would have to get it towed. I did not have a number to a tow company, so the male got on his cricket phone and called someone who was going to come get the vehicle. I pointed out that a tow-truck needs the vehicle in neutral and unlocked, so they can better move the vehicle.

He called the shop again and worked out to take the key to the shop, and the tow truck would pickup the key before getting the vehicle.

We then both left the scene. Time on scene, 15 minutes.

Afternote: Later that night (5 hours later) the vehicle was still there, so I don't know of the guy actually did call a tow company. He was speaking in spanish, which I do not understand.

Afternote 2: Vehicle was still there 2007-03-02-14-00. Surprised it hasn't been towed by the city yet.
  

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2007-02-22-03-15

While making a late night run to the ATM, I saw a chair just off the right lane of south bound US169 at 61st.

Just a quick stop to move it to the shoulder, and out of the way, so some unsuspecting driver doesn't hit it, after all, it's somewhat dark at 3a.m.

Time on scene, 3 minutes.
  

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2007-02-02-23-55

On my way home for the night, I discovered debris in the south bound, left lane of Memorial near 60th. It was blocking the left lane, so I stopped to remove it.

It appeared to be the remainder of a brass and glass coffee table. I moved it to the grass on the west side of the street. When it hit the ground, nuts shot in every direction. Here's a picture of it.

Time on Scene, 3 minutes.

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2007-02-02-15-15

While on the way to the laundromat, I came upon this vehicle in the right lane, northbound in the 63rd block of Memorial. Vehicle was un-attended, and locked.

I called Police and reported the abandoned vehicle blocking traffic, then deployed my cones. The cones had more effect than my warning lights, and was causing traffic to get single file nearly 3 blocks away. However, traffic still moved somewhat slow, as everyone had to see that there was nothing to see.

After about 10 minutes, a man arrived with a milk jug 2/3 full of gasoline, and told me that his girlfriend called him, and apparently ran out of gas.

I then informed him to tell her to not leave her vehicle un-attended in the roadway, as it affects traffic. I also informed him that the city [Tulsa] will tow a vehicle left like this one.

He was able to get the vehicle started and moved to a side street.

I picked up my cones, left the scene, and called back into TPD to report the vehicle had been moved. Just as I got off the phone, I saw the first TPD officer who appeared to be en-route.

Time on scene, about 25 minutes.
 

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2006-12-15-23-00

While out crusing Friday night, my wife and I came upon a security guard who was attempting to block a north bound lane at 41st and Garnett road. His car was poorly lit so we decided to stop and lend a hand.
The security officer who was off duty police had called in as a white camero had hit this silver car and ran. So, we waited for police to arrive and start the accident report. After the police officer had the car move off the roadway, we left.

Time on scene, 20 minutes
 

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2006-12-09-15-00

While looking for a carwash after going to the bank, I came across a black BMW that had broken down just north of 81st and Sheridan. Vehicle was in the fast lane with the hood up, and there was light smoke coming from under the hood

I used my car to alert traffic as we pushed it backwards 50 or so feet, and then off the road into a vacant corner lot.

Time on scene, 5 minutes. This is the car after it was moved.

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2006-12-01-19-50

On our way to the grocery store, my wife and I noticed a car that was high-centered due to the slick conditions the recent snow storm produced. We decided to see if we could be of assistance.

Another good samaritan stopped with a lifted 4wd GMC Pickup. Between the four of us, and a friend of the car's driver, we managed to get the car pulled back, and lifted the front end onto the median, so they could get free.

I used my car to alert oncoming motorists to our presence, and then stopped oncoming traffic so the car could back off the road.

Location was 71st and Memorial, East bound, with the car high-centered on the east bound, left turn median. Time on scene, about 20 minutes.

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2006-11-22-11-35

While on my way home from the computer store, I saw what looked like a fence gate in the exit ramp of US-169 Southbound to 71st Street. The debris was to the left of the center of the ramp, in the right side of the left lane. I blocked that lane so I could drag the debris to the sholder.

It only took me a little more than five minutes due to the traffic that kept coming down the ramp. There were several boards with exposed nails and two pieces of 1.25" angle iron with bolts. Both of these could cause tire damage.

Time on scene, ~5 minutes. This is the debris I removed.

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2006-10-26-21-45

On the way to my storage facility, I stopped to help manage traffic while a tow truck driver recovered a car that got bottomed out on a concrete curb. This was just south of 41st on 193rd East Avenue.

I was on scene for about 30 minutes. I directed traffic until police arrived and took over, and my wife was helping the tow truck driver get the vehicle secured.

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2006-9-16-11-30

While on the way home I heard about a semi truck that had jack-knifed on 9th near Albany in BA. It sounded that the local police were having issues getting the location properly closed off, as they were short handed.
I arrived on scene and ended up helping keep a neighbor hood street closed off as there were plenty of gawkers from the neighborhood, and cars who were trying to bypass that kept trying to get onto 9th street.

I was finally relieved after the situation was contained and the police were waiting on hazmat and the towing company to decide how to remove the semi.

Semi appeared to have broken free from it's trailer which contained a 4 wheeler and a top fuel race car of sorts.

Time on scene, 2 hours.

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2006-9-16-1-15

A friend of my wife's was involved in an accident at 61st & Memorial, and since we were a mile away, we went over to see if we could help.

Once I arrived on scene, I noticed that there was a tight gap between the ambulance and a concrete center median, which could be a problem for someone making a left turn into that direction. I also noticed that there was relatively little warning power on the fire truck in the intersection, so I parked in the opposing turn lane, thus preventing anyone from turning into that area.

After fire/ems left the scene, I moved so that the car was sandwiched between my car warning south bound and the police cars warning north bound.

After the driver who was our friend was released from giving a statement, I drove her to the hospital to join her passenger, as she rode with ems to the hospital.

Time on scene, 2 hours.