It was the product of physics and bad luck.

On a stretch of rural road somewhere in the dark countryside south of Lengby, the Ford LTD hit a patch of ice.

The car slid, crossed the road, and went into a ditch.

Not dramatically — Jean was unhurt.

She was not pinned, not injured, not in any immediate physical danger from the crash itself.

But she was stuck.

The car was in a ditch in the dark at twenty-two below zero, and she had no way to call for help.

In 1980, there were no cell phones.