Not fun - even as a 'by-stander'. Glad you chose to vent/release/whatever instead of keeping it bottled up.
I hear lots of scary stories from my sister (an ambulance paramedic) all the time.
A couple of times a year I get on my local bike forums to 'play dad' and chastise a few of the local riders for training with no (or cruddy) lights. *sighs*
You can only do so much.
Chin up. Deep breath.