On a Tragic Road!

[dslrchat]

On a Tragic Road!

This past Sunday, I was up bright and early to go to a Baptism.
On our way to the Church, we drove by many Road side Memorials.
There was one section of the Road that had 5 in a 1/4 mile stretch.

Anyways on the way back I stopped at 3 of them to take some photos, the thought of so many lives lost moved me.

One of them just had the grass cut, and while I was there a young man (early 20's) came by to finish the grass and clean up.
With him he brought 2 Beer, as I was leaving I saw him (as he had a tear in his eye) place 1 beer next to the memorial, sit down and have a drink with his (Friend/brother?)

Now, I am not sure what really possessed me to take the photos, but on my way home I got a call. 2 very good Friends were in an accident early that morning, 1 did not make it.

There was alcohol involved and many lives were ruined.
The young man who died, his family and the impaired driver and his family, these lives will never be the same.

Not wanting to preach, and hope you all had a safe and happy Memorial Day Weekend.

This is just something to think about next time we get behind the wheel of a car.

Below are 3 photos from the Road Side Memorials.


1
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll23/Dslrchat/rdm1.jpg
2
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll23/Dslrchat/rsm2.jpg
3
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll23/Dslrchat/rsm3.jpg

[Johnny O]

it's sort of a weird paradox when someone brings a beer to a roadside memorial when, chances are, alcohol was probably the source of the accident. i had a really close girl friend of mine involved in an accident on st. pattys day, she was hit by a drunk driver and literally came |-this-| close to losing her life. it definitely makes you think twice about getting in the car with someone after a night at the bars. i actually just wrote a whole column about this exact same subject for my magazine, it kinda goes to show that drunk driving accidents are a universal pain.

[xstacy]

............it definitely makes you think twice about getting in the car with someone after a night at the bars. i actually just wrote a whole column about this exact same subject for my magazine, it kinda goes to show that drunk driving accidents are a universal pain.
It does make you think twice and definitely a universal pain and tragedy, that shouldn't happen in the first place.
If you want to post your article in the general discussion section, by all means do....wouldn't mind reading it.

[Stargazer]

Sorry to hear the sad news about your friends. I know people drive by those road-side memories everyday without a thought, but each one of those markers has a life story behind it.

[Chiller]

Thanks for sharing...really makes you think.
Sadly, I have seen these memorials popping up all over. There is one on the way to work I see a lady attending to it every morning.

[Corbin Lane]

Sorry to be bumping this but I found your well. DSLR.com's myspace and I saw this on there and I cant help but to post.

I think that the photos hold a significant value to me because I was hit by a drunk driver and I almost did not make it. It's a very long story but this just hit so close to home. No one really cares about drunk drivers until their family is affected by them.

Like Gazer said, People drive by road side Memorials and don't think about it the true tragedy behind it.

[Miaow]

Sorry to hear about your friends :(

We have a few memorials down here also - In fact, its sad to say, there seem to more and more of them as time passes :(

I think they do serve to remind people that life can be so short and that we need to take more care on the roads, but I think that unfortunately when it comes to people drink driving they seem to think they are invincible when they arent, they are just a danger to others and themselves when in that state and in control of a large and heavy machine at high speeds :(

[Thomas McKown Photo]

I actually drive past one of these on a regular basis and I think about the accident every time. I was driving home one day, and two cars ahead of me, there was a wreck. A 19 yr old boy who was on his way home from work (a place that is notorious for over-working its employees) and fell asleep and hit a semi head on. I was probably the first to call 911. In the 12 and 1/2 minutes it took for the first firetruck to arrive, he didnt make it. It turned out that he was new to the area and had a wife and a baby and was just trying to support them. I have driven past the memorial several times when his wife was decorating it with flowers. This is truly a heart-breaking site. While drunk driving is definitely dangerous, it is third on the list for leading causes of accidents behind distracted drivers and drowsy drivers. I have never driven drunk, but I am guilty of the other two. So, while most people know not to drink and drive, I always stress that if you feel sleepy, pull off. Most people just try to push through, but this often turns out in tragedy.