I was just a first responder

[Snowreap]

there are 1 or 2 accidents per year at the intersection I live at the corner of, but never any that resulted in a rollover that I can recall.

I've gotten used to the procedure by now: pick up the cordless phone, dial the police as I go outside (I use their direct number, rather than dialing 911), report the location and whether or not there appear to be injuries (there never have been, so far). I always forget to bring a notepad and a pencil with me, however. sometimes things happen that you need to take note of (like one of the involved parties leaves the scene).

I occasionally hear what sounds like a gunshot (there are a lot of woods in my area, so I assume that some homeowner is dispatching groundhogs or something with a rifle or shotgun) and the sound of a car accident is distinctly different. the sound of a vehicle impact dies very quickly and doesn't "ring" the way a gunshot does. but I agree, the first instinct in both cases is always "gunshot".

-ken