Home....another safe trip

We are back in North Carolina once again. Henry spent a week with his family in New York by flying up there one way. Then I drove up Wednesday and made good time until I had to make a stop in PA to get a new valid license. And then could not resist making a second stop not long after to get ice cream from the Purple Cow. Then went the wrong way briefly but still ended up being about a 12hr trip. Spent Thurs and Fri with Henry's family and we drove back yesterday. It seems we can never make it through the DC/Northern Virginia area without a traffic delay whether it be on the way up/way back. Well this time was the worst so far. We came to a dead stop in Maryland (before DC for the first time) and sat there for one hour not budging. I knew it was bad when a helicopter landed ahead. Emergency vehicles had zipped by. In total, I saw 4 ambulances (w/ sirens and lights on) leave, 2 Fire Rescue vehicles and 2 fire trucks and a second helicopter also ended up landing. By the time we finally got going again and went by the scene there wasn't a whole lot to see. A truck with a smashed front and a SUV smashed on the drivers side.
The 12 hr drive is not usually ever "fun" but the last few times have been especially draining and we have said we won't do it again.....and then we do. Sitting still for an hour was especially difficult but it could have been worse. I have always been thankful that given the number of times we have made that journey, not once have we had a problem other than a traffic delay. We have not been pulled over, we have not been in a wreck, we have not broken down. Now after finding a brief story of the accident here and seeing the photo, we are so blessed that we were not just a little further (less than a mile) ahead and possibly been involved in this terrible accident. Thank goodness it seems those that were involved are injured but alive. (The article mistakenly says it occurred Sunday at 530pm but it was Saturday.)