In the early morning of September 20th, 1996, the Seattle Prep Class of ‘97 boarded two buses and began their route to the annual senior-bonding retreat at Camp Hamilton in Monroe. However, what was expected to be a day of high-ropes courses and unity-building exercises took a serious turn of events that is remembered to this day.
Half of the seniors were assigned to the bus driven by history teacher, Terry McIver. Ms. Lovejoy, Mr. Elsner, and Ms. Andrews – current staff members of Seattle Prep – were just three among the 35 students who were aboard what is equivalent to today’s “Big Blue”.
As the students made their way to the retreat, they drove along Novelty Hill Road – an extremely windy route that connects Redmond to Snoqualmie Valley. As the bus continued along the road, students noticed they began to rapidly exceed the 20-mph speed limit. Ms. Lovejoy accounts that, “at first, my classmates and I didn’t realize that there was a problem.” They thought the high-speed-ride was only temporary fun. It wasn’t until they shouted to the bus driver to slow down and noticed Mr. McIver helplessly pumping the brakes that reality set in, and panic arose.
Terry McIver had to think quickly, as the bus continued to speed up downhill towards one of the tightest curves on the road that overlooked a ravine on the right-hand side. To avoid plummeting over the side of the road, McIver crossed the center line into the left-hand lane, swerving into oncoming traffic just as a landscaping truck rounded the curve. The bus struck the truck head on, and continued across the road, sliding into a tree on a hillside where it finally stopped. Since the bus was going so fast, truck driver, 56-year-old Gerry Porter, had no time to brace himself or react.
Thankfully, all the people on the bus suffered no serious injuries. Ten or twelve students with minor neck and back injuries were taken by ambulance to Snoqualmie Valley Hospital or the Evergreen Hospital Medical Center in Kirkland. The rest were taken to Overlake Hospital Medical Center in Bellevue to be examined for any bruises, cuts, and pain.
Unfortunately, Porter was in critical condition. He had to be cut out of his vehicle and airlifted to Harborview Medical Center for chest and head injuries and a fractured elbow. Several students, including Ms. Lovejoy, went to visit Porter at Harborview to check in and wish him a fast recovery. Porter told Lovejoy and her friends that his brother had a premonition the night before the accident. “He had dreamed of urgent flashing lights outside of his window and knew that it meant something terrible was going to happen,” said Lovejoy. The man stated that he took the terrifying crash as a wake-up call and sign to appreciate his life as it was nearly jeopardized in the event.
Although this terrifying event left the Seattle Prep community shaken, Terry McIver’s heroic action in a high-pressure situation saved their lives. The senior retreat was cancelled, and all students returned to campus where counselors and parents of the students awaited.
