Speed Kills~A Hard Lesson Learned

Unfortunately, another tragedy took place in Orange County over the weekend involving teenagers.  It's something we can all learn from and remind our children that speed can kill.

Two young lives were taken in a tragic car accident that could have been prevented. It was neither texting or drinking that caused the accident but illegal street racing. Now two beautiful teenagers, a boy and a girl, 16 years old, are gone and two others are in the hospital and another 17 year old is charged with involvement in the crash because he was also racing. The charges that he may see are heavy and he has to live with the nightmare over and over again. We live in a smaller community and everyone is connected somehow it seems. The boy who died went to elementary school with my neighbor's daughter and the kids were pretty popular and loved at their school. I am sure it is a shock to the school. I remember when we lost some kids at Byron High School when they were Seniors to a drunk driver and it shocked the town and the school. Then a year or so after we graduated we lost two boys in our class from driving to fast. It is something that no one ever forgets and as parents to loose a child so suddenly is something I don't think anyone can get over but you go on with your life with a whole in your heart. You get by with support from friends and family. They were so young and innocent just starting into the exciting times in their young lives. It was cut too short. 

It hits close to home as a parent when you hear of accidents like this. As a mother of three boys,  I am terrified of all of them getting their license one day. So many things can happen and it is out of our control as parents. They also have so far to drive to school in the morning. Can they ride the bus all through High School??? I have 7 years before the first one is going to be at this age to drive. I have awhile to work up to that. By that time, you hope they can make the right decisions. I also pray that there will be a little guardian angel watching over them.   I have a feeling my faith will become even stronger as kids enter their teenage years. You can't control what they do and you must have faith in them as they walk along that path to who they will become.

So the litany of things to remember to tell them what not to do when you are driving, adds yet another item and unfortunately an example of what can happen if you do not obey that law. They were speeding and not wearing their seat belts. If they were going the speed limit and wearing their seat belts it could have been avoided.

I pray for these families and their friends as they are going through this difficult time.  I cannot imagine the pain and loss they are feeling.

Buckle Up and Drive Safe.....