A Shrine to Bad Decisions

This afternoon I drove by the scene of this accident that took the life of an 18 year old and seriously injured two others on Monday evening. The accident occurred because two guys decided to race their high performance cars at speeds in excess of 80 mph down a wide but winding and hilly road. One driver lost control, as happens way to often with youthful drivers who think they're going to live forever. I really get angry when I hear about these wrecks because they simply don't have to happen.

As has now become the custom, a shrine has developed at the accident scene. When I went by there I saw several expensive cars parked in the entry area to the gated community above the scene, and dozens of flowers adorning the grassy area where mourners were gathered. I couldn't help but wonder how the residents of that community feel about having this shrine at the entrance to their development.

Chances are the family and friends will continue to monitor this shrine for awhile, and in some ways I hope they do. I hope every parent with teenagers will point to that shrine every time they drive by and say "this is what can happen when teens make stupid decisions - don't you be the next one." Maybe leaving that shrine there for awhile will keep some other kid from doing the same thing.