"It was one of those beautiful spring mornings when you can almost see ice crystals on what appears to be a clear road. I had already experienced some instability on corners and driving over the first bridge while heading north towards Bozeman on 191 to my son’s track meet; but the driver coming from Bozeman was hitting his first the river crossing at the Lava Lake pull out. Both he and the car behind him were completely out of control on the bridge as I approached. The southbound truck collided with me head-on, completely crushing the entire driver’s side of my Suburban and setting off airbags in both vehicles. I remember climbing out of the car on the passenger side in a confused state. There was airbag dust everywhere that looked like smoke and a man yelling at me from the other side of the highway. His concern was whether we were all okay, and it appeared we were. His next concern was that we were in an extremely dangerous place, out of view of oncoming traffic and just across an icy bridge. I was unable to find my phone through the smoke and dust and was worried about my dog who was also missing. The people in the truck that hit me had yet to get out of their vehicle (they said they were okay, but seemed confused). I yelled to the man across the highway to please call 911. His reply threw me: ‘There’s no cell service here, ma’am!’  As a Big Sky resident, of course I knew there wasn’t service, but I had never thought about actually being in this situation in the canyon. It was then that I saw the Emergency Call Box literally across the highway. I can’t tell you my relief when I picked it up and immediately was speaking to an actual person who explained that help was on the way." 

 

"You never think you will be the one feeling helpless and stranded without cell service or help in the middle of the canyon. But it can happen. I am so very grateful for the Call Box near Lava Lake - I can’t tell you! I had told a local who passed by to please call my husband when they got to cell service, but the delay was excruciating. The emergency crew and sheriff were there so quickly due to the Call Box.  I feel like this definitely helped eliminate further accidents that icy morning. Thank you so much, Rotary Club, for proactively taking on this project and making a dangerous drive a little less stressful for us all!"

 

Jill Bough