I was just minding my own business, driving to work in the darkness of 6 AM. I merged onto the 10 passing behind a semi, and as I got into the lane next to it sparks started flying the entire length of the semi towards me. So I moved as far away from it as I could, knowing something was wrong. Later I learned what exactly was wrong: a semi and a silver Honda had collided, and the semi was grinding that car into the asphault.
I merged as far away from the truck as I could, hoping I would be able to get by without getting dragged into the mess. But I was not sucessful. As I got into the far left lane, I saw something dark and spinning out of the corner of my eye, and it was heading right for me. It was a Mustang that the truck and honda had clipped and which spun out across all the lanes of traffic and slammed into my car. We brushed against the cement divider of the freeway, and then back into the left lane.
Later I found out the Mustang ended up travelling all the way back over to the semi and the car, where it joined in the flames with the cab of the semi and the silver Honda.
Meanwhile, I watched the airbag start to open, and turned to my right so that it wouldn't hit me in the face. Supposedly I next broke the driver's side window with my head, but the next thing I remember the car was coming to a stop, there was broken glass in my hair and all over a good part of the front seat, my left arm was covering my eyes and keeping flying glass out them, and the airbag in front of me was deflated. The emergency lights were flashing, the windshield wippers going, and the trunk and glove compartment were open.
In the rearview mirror I could see flames, and inside my car smelled like burning, chemicals, and metal. I got out, and realized the car behind me had stopped without hitting me. I walked over to that car, and when I got there found that the guy was already calling to report the accident. Another car stopped a bit in front of where my car was, and he walked back and the two stayed with me until everything was under control (which was awesome of them). At that point, we were told that everyone was already out of the other cars, and give the intensity of the fire at that point, were were happy to hear it.
As the fires burned, about 8 or so cops showed up, along with about 3 firetrucks and 4 ambulances. They were soon at work to put out the fire, and succeeded after a few small explosions increased the flames. Each of the cars and the semi only had a single person in it, and although every driver left in an ambulance, we were lucky enough to all leave alive.
I was soon released from the hospital -- they had worried that my sternum was broken, but the xrays looked ok. I was left with a nice headache, one small cut from glass, some bruises, and a very sore ribcage, and I'm lucky it wasn't any worse. I still haven't heard anything about how the other drivers are doing, or the cause of the accident.
