Bethany Cummings is still trying to come to terms with the narrow escape she had from a horrific collision on Highway 17 on Saturday.
The Marathon resident suffered relatively minor injuries after her pickup truck was struck by an oncoming tractor-trailer and flipped multiple times before coming to rest on its side in the middle of the highway.
Provincial police said the driver of the transport truck, whose vehicle went down an embankment and overturned, also sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
The near-tragedy occurred about 1:30 p.m. as Cummings was returning from a trip to Thunder Bay.
She told TBnewswatch she was at Ripple Creek, between Terrace Bay and Marathon, when she came around a curve and saw the tractor-trailer approaching in her lane.
"About 80 per cent of the transport was already in my lane, coming at me head-on. At this point I don't even really recall, but I yanked the steering wheel. I just remember a collision, and then I started rolling down the highway. I'm thinking I rolled at least 10 times judging by the distance I travelled."
Cummings said the transport truck hit her vehicle near the rear wheels.
When her pickup finally came to rest, she was worried that she might pass out or that another vehicle might smash into her before she got out.
"I saw an opening in the windshield and started hitting it and making my way through to get out. Thankfully nobody else came up behind me and hit me," she said.
A motorist had been following her and barely avoided being struck by the transport truck before the tractor-trailer careened off the road.
Both Cummings and the trucker were taken to hospital in Marathon.
She's thankful and amazed that the collision only left her with bruising, a possible broken bone in her hand, and a headache.
"It's insane. I feel like I've been dreaming," she said, describing it as a miracle.
The mother of one said all she could think about in the moment was her daughter growing up without her mother.
Cummings has been on maternity leave and was scheduled to return to work next week but that may now have to be postponed.
Provincial police have charged the operator of the tractor-trailer with careless driving.
