Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Sad Ending for 2013


My sister got a call tonight from a coworker asking my sister for help. The coworker doesn't have a driver license, and received a text from one of her sons that he had been in an accident a few blocks from my sister's house. Please go there and check it out.

Young man caused an accident. Was under the influence. Is now under arrest. Is still on probation from some earlier infraction. The only good news was no one seriously hurt.

So, jail, bail, a tow bill, impound fees, vehicle repair and probation revocation. Court, lawyers, fines, more probation, classes, random whiz tests, and an ignition interlock (and that is a maybe). Depending on his past record, maybe three years in prison.

I have no sympathy for the son. The burden will fall on the mother. Her I feel terrible for. I've been in her shoes, and it hurts! 

You can talk tough love all you want, but, that is your child. You don't stop being a parent.

So many friends, family, and coworkers have been hammered by this problem. A favored cousin was killed by a drunk driver. She had one of the happiest marriages I've ever witnessed, and two young sons.

Here is hoping for a sober 2014. A special thanks to all the first responders that deal with the blood and carnage. Stay safe and go home to your families at the end of you shift, please.




4 comments:

Ami said...

How sad. I worry every year about losing someone I love to an impaired driver. One of my friends lost her sister to a guy who'd been busted 16 times!! And he had no driver's license, but that didn't stop him from getting behind the wheel drunk. At his trial he said that he'd had a rough childhood. That the court should be lenient.
That was 14 years ago. He's still in prison. But he shouldn't have been on the streets after being busted for drunk driving so many times.
And it makes me angry that everyone 'knows' not to drink and drive. And they still do it.

Scotty said...

But by the Grace of God go I. I consider myself blessed that I made it out of my youth alive!!

Well Seasoned Fool said...

I wonder sometimes that chronic drunk drivers are like many pedophiles in that there is no cure.

Well Seasoned Fool said...

I will most definitely second that.