Pedestrian Crash Gives Man New Outlook on Life

After hearing about pedestrian, accident on Monday, Oct.1, architect, Farshid Mohseni, says he has a new way of looking at life.

Hedayati is the sister of Mohseni's friend, Mohammed, and he was in the area around the same time when she was struck by a car. The 43-year-old resident was in a crosswalk at Moulton Parkway and Aliso Niguel, when a 45-year-old man's Honda hit her, authorities, said. She remains in critical condition at a local hospital, according to a hospital spokesperson.

Mohseni, who works in San Diego, was asked a few weeks ago by another friend in Laguna Niguel, if he could help redesign a home in the area, he said.

"I drove to Laguna Niguel from Del Mar a few times within the last few days. In my last trip on Tuesday morning, Mohammad did not attend the meeting he had participated in up until then," he recalled. "Later on, I understood the reason was because of this horrific car accident on Monday afternoon that severed his sister's leg and left her with possible head trauma." 

Mohseni says he still doesn't understand how Mohammed was "so strong and brave." Traffic was backed up for hours on Moulton as deputies ordered a SigAlert and many Good Samaritans tried to help Hedayati. 

"To tolerate what happened to his sister, let alone provide other family members support, was and is, amazing to me," he said.

When Mohseni returned to Del Mar on Tuesday evening, he noticed he left his glasses in Laguna Niguel. The next morning, he went to buy a new pair and proceeded to enter the 52 freeway from the Regents on-ramp to go to I-5 North.

That's when he realized he had a flat tire. He pulled to the right and drove above a side curb to give him more protection against the upcoming cars, he said.

"When I put the jack under the car, I started thinking the cars are driving over 65 miles an hour, and it may take someone who is distracted just a few seconds to drive off the lane and hit me trying to replace my flat tire," he said. "I didn't even think about other reasons for the distraction of the drivers such as drugs or alcohol."

He added what he was thinking about was that maybe he, "should not proceed in light of the possibility of an accident such as the one in Laguna Niguel."

But then his luck changed.

"A green truck pulled behind me and a young man in his 20s disembarked," he said. "He approached me with a nice smile and said: 'My truck is made out of steel and will provide a barrier while you are replacing your flat tire.' " 

Mohseni hurried and replaced his tire and, "the stranger even helped him put the flat tire back into the trunk."

"He said he would wait until I pulled away before he left. I shook hands with him and told him about the accident in Laguna Niguel the previous day," he said. 

Mohseni got into his car and left, However, he says ever since he pulled away, he has regretted he didn't askt for the man's contact information.

"I wanted to take him to lunch, give him a hug, and thank him for what he did.  He taught me to do the same thing from here on, and not be self-serving only," Mohseni said. "I feel somebody up there was listening to my cries, and was making sure I was safe for my 7-year-old son. I think we have to emphasize and report the good that happens in our every day life, along with the bad ones such as the accident."

Moshseni says we often take every day life incidents for granted, and "do not elaborate on what puts a smile on our face."

"Last night, I could not fall sleep. I was thinking of the young man who helped me the other day. I felt the warmth of a nice smile on my face," he said. "I feel I am mentally connected to that young man, and want to learn from him. I want to hug him. I have been praying for my friend's sister and looking forward to his smile and warm hug when he tells me she has opened her eyes and said hello."