Impressions from 65mph.

The traffic was pretty light today. The signs of yesterday's destruction were still quite visible. The first sign were the marks left by a line of burned out flares where the traffic was rerouted when the road closed. Ahead a sign says "Rough Road Ahead" and traffic slows noticeably.

The first thing that catches my eye is the police tape along the roadside. They are still investigating and recreating. Then the skid marks, long and swerving. There's a certain desperation in those marks and I know those were made by people who lived.

I drive under the bridge and into the crash zone. My first impression is that the people who died never had a chance. The truck dropped from above and behind them. You either drove away scott free, made those desperate skid marks, or died. The road is rough. It's melted, nicked, damaged and covered with scorch marks and the remnants of the fire retardent. Funny how that looks like nothing more than too much salt after a snow storm.

The median and the trees to the right are burned black. They will be our reminder for the whole winter. Then it's past. I cross another bridge and remember the fall's bad accident not a mile further along. I say a little something for that driver too.

The worst thing for me is that the victims are beyond recognition. A quote in the paper says that they won't be able to identify them until family and friends report them missing. Five people - gone.