It was just another Friday night and early Saturday morning shift at the station. Well aware of the weather that was swarming in from the North, I sat in the station monitoring the police and fire scanners. For the most part, the shift was panning out to be a little uneventful. There were two accidents near the beginning of my shift one on I-25 and Cimarron and another on Black Forest Road and County Line Road.

Of the two, the County Line Road accident sounded the more serious. As I listened in on that accident I realized that the roads on the Palmer Divide were turning slick very quickly. With that in mind, I chose not to take the risk of driving to such a remote location in the weather. I also knew that by the time I got to the location there would not be anything to report on.

Near the end of the shift I was still monitoring the scanners when I heard the report of a multi-car accident on Circle and Fountain, shortly after the initial call I heard one of the fire crews report that they were now involved in the same accident. I poked my head in to the master control room and asked the engineer how the roads were on his way in as he had just arrived. He said he came in on the interstate and the roads were not to bad yet. With that I started out to respond and report on the accident.

When I first got on to the interstate I noted that my traction was fairly good, but that there were signs of glare ice on the road surface. I slowed down about 10 miles an hour below the posted speed limit and made my way south.

As I was rounding the Motor City Curve, I saw a Jeep Wrangler on the right shoulder travel ling North on the Southbound side flashing his lights frantically. I'm glad he did because at that moment I began seeing the massive pileup happening. I slowly applied my breaks for nearly a quarter mile. I switched the truck from 2 to 4wd and slowly began pumping my breaks in an attempt to slow down. Knowing that my traction was nearly gone. I swerved to miss the Trash Truck and three other vehicles that were slamming into one another.

Everything began to seem like it was in slow motion. I saw four vehicles behind me colliding and one coming at me. I weaved the truck through narrow openings and slowly came to a stop once I felt I was protected by the AFA bus you see me parked next to.

I immediately called CSPD and Fire dispatched and warned them to close SB I-25 at Cimarron and to send AMR. I also at that moment saw an AMR vehicle coming in a little hot and then saw them spin out. CSPD, CSFD and AMR along with AFA Cadets from the bus along with other quick thinking people really reacted well to minimize the risk of injury or death in the pile up. I then started to render what assistance I could until police and fire could take over. It wasn't until I was there 10 minutes that I could start shooting the scene for the news broadcast. Fact is I kind of forgot what I was there for in all the rush of action going on. It was more important to me to render as much assistance as I could. When I realized the emergency crews had the situation well in hand I shuffled across the ice back to the news truck I was driving to get my gear out and start recording the scene.

When I was in the military this scene would have been called a target rich environment, I realized the massive scope of the scene and rushed through my head how best to record it. Cars that I had earlier been following were piled up, torn apart and crushed into a heap of metal and glass. Standing in it, I could see expressions on the faces of others who were involved and they were all stunned. The scene in the moment was surreal.

I nearly forgot that while all of this was going on I was in touch with the TV Station master control and giving them details so that they could put up an alert scroll on the screen so that those at home would know not to attempt to venture out. I also called a producer and weekend Anchor so that they could take over the station and monitor the unfolding events. I know on their end I must have sounded like a mad man and because they could not see the scene it probably sounded even worse.

As a photojournalist for the past several years I have always remembered one thing, "Ours is to report the news, not be the news..." This was one of those moments after being the news it was almost impossible to just step back and report the news. The job of the photojournalist is the become the eyes of the viewer and record the scenes as they happen in an accurate and timely manor, but in situations like this, it was more important to help others first then, when you've done all you could, and only then, step back and become a journalist again.

One thing I can come away with after all was said and done was the impression I got from those involved who stepped up and selflessly helped others. Those who got other to safety and reach out to help a stranger. I applaud the off-duty firefighter I met, a Fort Carson Sergeant and the six Air Force Cadets and their bus driver who all sprung into action and got others to safety.

James Egbert, KKTV  Photojournalist