Written By Anne Blue
Looking at the severely damaged vehicle, the tow truck driver was certain that no one could have survived the crash. The minivan was lying upside down. All of its windows were shattered, and there were signs that rescuers had cut metal away to get victims out of the wreckage.
But for Charlotte Waltmeyer and her passenger Donald, it was a miraculous escape.
Charlotte works as a community living assistant for Target Communities & Educational Services, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides programs and services to help people with developmental disabilities. Donald is a longtime client of Target. He is deaf and nonverbal, communicating only in sign language.
Waltmeyer was driving north on Highway 27 towards Manchester on an afternoon in mid-December. She was taking Donald to see her son’s school choir performance at the Manchester library. Her son had a solo part and both she and her passenger were eager for the special outing.
As they drove through the pouring rain, Waltmeyer saw another car crossing Highway 27 right in front of them.
“I knew that car would never make it across the road in time and I was going to hit it,” she said. “I remember our van flipping three or four times, and just like they say, my life flashed before my eyes. It was very scary and I remember asking God to protect us.”
Waltmeyer was knocked unconscious in the crash. She woke up hanging from her seat belt in the upside down van. Donald’s seat belt had broken and he had fallen onto Waltmeyer.
“I was so worried about Donald,” said Waltmeyer. “Since he is deaf, I kept signing to him, trying to hold him to tell him we were going to be okay and I was sorry.”
“I was trying to be coherent for both of us, but Donald was signing back to me, too. He kept telling me that he was sorry.”
Donald was able to crawl out through a smashed window with the help of emergency workers, but it took rescuers another hour and a half to cut Waltmeyer out of the car.
Waltmeyer was in the Shock Trauma Institute for a day and half while her injuries were evaluated and treated. Now recovering, she is eager to get back to work with Donald and her other Target clients.
“It was a miracle that we both survived that wreck,” said Waltmeyer, “Just being alive is awesome.”
Donald must agree. Treated for minor cuts and abrasions at Carroll Hospital Center, he was able to attend the Target Communities holiday party a week after the accident where he cheerfully showed off the scar on his head and passed out plenty of hugs.
Editor’s Note: Target Communities & Educational Services, Inc. has requested that Donald’s last name be kept confidential.
