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I was driving down Sunset towards Echo Park for a go-see. Diana was my passenger and my escort to the go-see (pairs is always a good thing until you know the people with whom you will be working, especially when they find you online).

We were stopped at a redlight on Sunset at Sanborn... second vehicle back.

The traffic moving on the cross-street, Sanborn, moved fairly swiftly.

We had our windows down enjoying the cool evening air.

A motorcycle crossed in front of us on Sanborn. A guy driver and a girl passenger. He wore a helmet. She did not.

We watched them pass.

Then, we heard that all-too familiar sound.

Vehicles had collided.

At that second, our light turned green and we moved forward on Sunset. We looked to the right onto Sanborn, but we already knew.

The motorcycle was beneath a parked car on Sanborn. The guy with the helmet and the girl without were tangled against the parked car. He was sitting up. She was shouting that she couldn't move her legs.

An Suv was in the oncoming lane next to them with its front bumper hanging to the ground, surounded by shattered lights and pieces of the bike.

People were running from everywhere, but no one seemed to dare touch them... likely for fear of worsening an already awful situation.

We knew there wasn't much we could do by stopping, so we opted to dial 911 since we were among the first to view the accident.

Trying to call using both my phone and Diana's phone left us with little more than a minute of busy signals. Finally, when the ringing began on Diana's phone, we ditched mine and waited for the operator to pick up.

When the phone was picked up, it was by a recorded voice.

"All emergency operators are currently busy. Please hold on the line for the next available operator."

Are you kidding me?

Diana held on the line for nearly four minutes listening to a variety of recorded messages before finally a real live person answered the line and dispatched an ambulance to the location.

A minute of busy signal. Four minutes of holding. Those five minutes could have meant life and death in any number of emergencies.

You know what? Forget 911. The police are now in my speed dial. Shoot, I may just program the local hospital as well. If the emergency calls for medical help, I'll call the dang ambulance myself.

Diana said, "When I walk my dog, I take my phone thinking it is a bit of protection. What am I supposed to do? Run around the block on hold while my attacker chases me and hope 911 picks up before he catches me?"

I keep hearing that sound. When the bike hit another vehicle. I know the sound. And I hate the sound. Anyone who has been in a car accident knows what sound I am talking about.

It began to rain on my way home. It hasn't rained in literally months. Probably 8 months.

So, when I got here, I chose to leave the tv off, the radio off. I opened the window and I am now listening to the rain hit the leaves on the magnolia outside my window. And trying to concentrate on that sound... instead of the other one.

But I still see them. The boy and the girl.

Thank God my brother sold his bike.