In August of 1994, my wife and I took a trip to Montana on our motorcycle.  We were returning from this trip and crossing our own Washington State on Interstate 90 just East of George, Washington when we came upon an accident that had just happened as we rounded a bend in the freeway.

We were westbound and I could see cars in the eastbound lanes pulling off the road next to a bridge over a canal. I could see men running down the bank and jumping into the water.  I did not see it happen, but apparently a Chevy Suburban went off the road and into the canal, sinking out of sight.  I stopped and my wife and I got off the bike and crossed the freeway to see exactly what was going on.  I could see a couple of guys pulling some kids out of the water and they looked up to the bridge and hollered for help from anyone knowing CPR.

I had just been trained and dashed down the bank and started to help with a young girl.  She was conscious and breathing so no CPR was really needed to revive her but I wanted to keep a close watch and keep her from going into shock before the EMT folks arrived and took over.

I dont know if she was rescued or got out herself but the mother who had been driving the Suburban appeared and was being attended to by EMT firemen who had just arrived.  Several other kids were being attended to nearby.

Apparently the mother was going home to Spokane with 6 kids in the car and fell asleep at the wheel, driving off into the canal.  Only 3 of the kids survived.

While I was attending to young Julie, I kept asking her to give me her name and tell me about school, etc. to keep her conscious and from going into shock.  I had another EMT woman assisting me now and she kept her talking as well.  Julie told us she was in the second grade.  She was wrapped in a sleeping bag someone had provided and was shivering uncontrollably.  We kept rubbing her and talking to her to keep her conscious.  The EMT lady was called away for a moment and while she was away, Julie stopped her shivering and started smiling and nodding with her eyes closed.  It was as if her fear had subsided and calmness came over her.  It was as if she were acknowledging someone she knew, although she did not say anything.  She simply nodded several times.  This went on for about 20 seconds.  I did not speak to her during these 20 seconds.  I simply watched in awe, as it just seemed as if someone else were talking to her.  No one was that I could see.  It was a very surreal moment.

A fireman walked up with the mother to check on her surviving children.  The mother was obviously in near shock herself and had to be steadied by the fireman.  She talked to her daughter and told her that they were looking for Billy but could not find him yet.  Then Julie said; Billy was just here, talking to me.  I was just talking to him, Mommy.  The mother said again, No, Honey, they havent found him yet.  The mother and fireman then moved on to one of the other surviving children.  I did the best I could at comforting Julie and soon they had her loaded in an ambulance and took her away.

I learned later that they never did find Billys body.  There was also an infant in a car seat that perished there that day as well.  I also learned that the woman and her husband had separated and she had become alcoholic.  Its a shame.  I think of Julie from time to time and wonder if she remembers her talk with her brother Billy following the accident on that tragic day.

Was this experience difficult to express in words? 

Yes

The surreal feeling during the "communication" between the sister and her deceased brother.

Did you ONLY sense an awareness of presence of the deceased without actually seeing, hearing, feeling or smelling them?           

Yes

Did you see the deceased?        

No

Did you smell a distinct smell, scent, fragrance or odor associated with the deceased?     

No

How long did the experience last?       

20 - 30 seconds

Was the beginning and end of the experience gradual or more sudden?        

It was like an interrupted conversation.

Could you sense the emotions or mood of the deceased?          

No

Did the deceased give you information you did not previously know? 

again, the deceased did not speak to me.

How do you currently view the reality of your experience?          

Experience was definitely real

            Please explain why you view the reality of your experience as real or not real:         

I cannot explain why it was real, it merely seemed very real as I mentioned earlier.  It was very surreal and the young girl was responding to SOMEONE and very much believed it was her brother who she did not know was deceased at the time.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?  

Uncertain

It was surreal but was very much based in reality of an event that did happen and is documented in the newspapers (the accident)

Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:          

My feelings were of concern for the health and welfare of the young girl I was caring for.

Was there any emotional healing in any way following the experience?          

Yes

The children may have had a short life on Earth but maybe there is a larger picture, a grander plan, a place where these kids moved on.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?     

The best part is the thought of life after death.  The worst part is the tragic impact this accident had on the family involved.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?        

No

Did the experience give you any spiritual understandings such as life, death, afterlife, God, etc.?           

Uncertain

It is not absolute proof to me but is a curious influence on what I HOPE to be true.

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?         

Uncertain

I've often wondered if the young girl remembers her conversation with her deceased brother immediately following the tragic accident.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?           

Grief for the tragic deaths of 3 children.

Was the experience witnessed or experienced by others?          

Yes

I was the witness - not the experiencer

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?  

Yes

While the young girl was nodding to what she believed to be her brother, it was like in a movie when the sound stops in the middle of a combat scene or similar event.  It was surreal.

Have you shared this experience with others?        

Yes

I have not shared it with many, only those whom I believe would be receptive of it.  However, then it is like "preaching to the choir", they were already receptive to the possibility of such things.  Everyone I've told this to were taken by the story and believe it possible that the young girl was speaking with her brother.

Have you shared this experience formally or informally with any other researcher or web site?           

Uncertain

I've told this to several people via e-mail but not on a web site.  To my knowledge, none were "researchers".

Were there any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience?            No

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?        

No 

Did you ever in your life have a near-death experience, out of body experience or other spiritual event?          

Yes 

I have encountered a ghost as a child.  I have had other unsusual events occur as well as UFO witness experience.  For a while I investigated UFO reports for MUFON.  When the above mentioned event happened, I was the King County State Section Director for MUFON.  I am no longer a part of the organization.

Did the questions asked and information you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?              

Yes

The questions are obviously aimed at the individuals doing the actual communications, not anyone witnessing such an event.  I did the best I could to fill in the blanks.

Please offer any suggestions you may have to improve this questionnaire.   

Possibly parts or sectioned aimed at witnesses to such events, who are not actually the ones involved directly with the communication.  If that's even relevant.  You tell me.