Follow-up on Tragic Crash

The story I reported earlier about the accident involving local kids on their way to the prom just gets sadder and sadder. The boy who died was a scholar/athlete at Servite High School, and the girl who was killed was his girlfriend who had just that day been reelected president of the student body at JSerra High School (both are Catholic private schools). Had the girl made it to the dance, she would have been crowned "Queen of the Spring Fling" later that evening.

In one of those spooky cosmic coincidences, here's what had happened earlier in the day involving the girl who died:

Later, Gilmore recounted the campaign speech Gillian gave the day she died, asking students to re-elect her as ASB president.

She put on a skit. She stood behind a screen while performers, including Ashley, acted out in pantomime.

The topic was, "What Would School Be Like Without Me?"

The performers pretended to cry.

Gillian came out from behind the screen.

Everyone was happy.

That kind of stuff gives you cold chills when you think back on it.

I had earlier wondered how many of these kids were wearing seatbelts. Three of the survivors who remained in the vehicle had their belts fastened. They all suffered major injuries, but they'll live for another day. The two fatalities were sitting together in the back seat and neither had belts on. The third person who was ejected from the vehicle had been riding in the cargo compartment in the back of the vehicle. They had 6 people in a 5 passenger car.

What a shame that all it took were a couple of bad decision to ruin so many lives. If you have teenages, as I do, have them read the following stories. It just might save their lives someday (registration may be required, but do it, it's worth it):

Drive to dance ends in tragedy

Teens were liked, admired

If nothing else, remind your kids about some important rules:

1. The driver can't afford to be distracted. Life is too precious to trade it for a pack of gum you dropped on the floor, or a cell phone call.
2. Never, ever ride in a vehicle without using the seat belts. If belts aren't available, call home.
3. Never overload any vehicle, let alone an SUV. It's better to take two cars than have people riding in spaces that aren't designed for passengers.
4. If you're driving an SUV, keep the control inputs smooth. Jerking the wheel makes a top heavy vehicle very unstable and it may be impossible to control.