The Life You Save May Be Your Own

There it was on the 11 o’clock news, another horrible accident on the freeway.

A family was coming home from an outing at Sea World and a car slammed into the back of their van, engulfing it in flames. The father, Steve Dunham, is on a respirator; the mother, Cheryl, and 3-year-old Mandy left with burns on 30% of their bodies, and Drew, who would have started school next week, dead.

Why am I writing of this tragedy? Because it happened to close family friends of mine, and in my anguish, it is the only thing I can think of to do.

I see you on the freeways, driving on the edge, going way too fast switching lanes to gain a car’s length, tailgating the car ahead--always in a hurry. Believe me, nothing is worth the life of an innocent child.

If this letter makes just one person think about driving more carefully, it will have been worth the effort.

There is an ache in my heart that won’t go away. So you out there, won’t you take a little more time to get to where it is you’re rushing to and drive with just a bit of care. The next accident might be my family or even your own.

SHIRLEY B. SMITH

Laguna Niguel