Death of a friend on the FWY
 

FULL STORY: http://24.55.90.28/ryan.html

Last night at 9:10 pm, one of my dear friends was involved in an accident on the freeway. He was doing close to 100 mph in his Chevy Tahoe, when he lost control, flipped a few times, nailing the center divider. Then, with the car on it's roof, another car slammed into the driver's side of the car, instantly killing Ryan Newman... who would have been 19 years old next month.
This has been, and will be much more so as time goes by, more than a learning experience. It still hasn't even hit me really... In about 20 minutes, it will be 24 hours since he ... departed.
Just thought I'd share this experience... just a reminder to never drive in anything but a Mercedes... just kidding (partly... ;) ), but just how dangerous to yourself, and other innocent drivers, speeding can be. This has really helped me to slow down also... because I have trouble with the speed limit.
I don't have much more to say... except seeing the look in his Mother's eyes (when I was over there earlier) was one of the most painful sights I have yet to see.

:(

((Sorry, this should have been in the OPEN Discussion))

David,
My prayers are with your friend, family, and friends. It is difficult to see why these things happen sometimes, but I do think it makes us all realize just how precious life is. Hang in there.

I just read the homepage linked... and found this quite disturbing.

I'll be the insensitive one here... what the heck was an inexperienced 18 year old driver doing in a 5000lb SUV at 100mph? That shows total lack of regard for anyone else on the road. Now that doesnt mean I think the guy in the camry didnt make a mistake by not swerving, but I dont think anyone should be pointing fingers. He brought this onto himself.

OTOH, I feel extremely sorry for this poor kids parents, freinds, siblings, ect. I know how bad a loss is and nothing will ever replace it. It gives everyone who has ever lost someone due to an accident new respect for what we usually take for granted. I also feel extremely sorry for the driver of the camry. He/she will live the rest of their life with the guilt of knowing they took the life of another human being, their fault or not.

I ride motorcycles and SUV's are my biggest fear. I'll never own one. I'll never drive one. They are extremely dangerous and the biggest threat to my life on the road. Anyone who drives one needs to understand the risks and control their speed. GM never envisioned a tahoe going 100mph. thats why the speedo only goes to 85. They did this for a reason. its a utility vehicle, not a high performance sports car. Anyone who treats it as a performance vehicle might have a rude awakening.

Sorry if my comments offend anyone..
Matt

That's a bummer David.

We've preached enough to you in the past, no preaching tonight.

Our condolences to his family. You will have a laugh, you'll have a cry and you'll laugh some more, sounds funny but it's true.

Speed kills
 

Recently two local young people, driving their parents new E series wagon were killed when the driver lost control of the car and hit a wall. The wagon was estimated to have been doing over 100mph at the time of impact.

No car is bullet proof. Most young people feel that they are immortal. To their family's sorrow, many find out that death can't be cheated.

I continually talk to my teens about the dangers of driving in general and speeding in particular. I pray to God that my "nagging" doesn't fall on deaf ears.

David, my sympathies go to you and to your friend's family. I had two friends die when I was young. One overdosed on drugs and the other committed suicide. Both times it really hurt.

Speed does not kill, stupid people kill.

No offense to anyone.

Believe me, I know his actions were irresponsible... and caused his own death. I saw the way he drove that thing... I knew that he was probably headed for destruction... whether in his car... or in life... he was severely depressed, and recently, after his real mother's death, took a wrong turn... he kind of drifted, got into drugs... the whole deal.

Weird though... besides grand-parents, and Ryan, the only other person I knew well that died, was a friend at my boarding school who hanged himself May 15, 2000.

:( Life is sad...

Here's another picture of him... he is the one in the dark hair... this was taken about 6 weeks ago.

David,


About 20 yrs ago I used to drive like a bat out of Hell. When one is young, we seem to think ourselves invinciible. I now have an 18 yr old son and cringe at the things he contemplates. I have lost friends over the years to similar incidents. I guess the best we can hope is that we learn from thier mistakes and give their passing some meaning.

We're sorry to hear of this sad and tragic news, David.

I'm sorry for your loss David. Our prayers go out to you and Ryans family and friends.

When I was young, I too drove fast at times. The times were limited as so were vehicles I was able to drive. My brushes with high speed were few and far between though they did happen. I suppose it is a crap shoot as to which result in the fatal accident and which don't. I had been lucky.

We shouldn't press our luck.

I'd like to see all of us continue to be on this forum for a long, long time.

Let's all drive safe, and keep your wits about you.

I'm sorry for your loss David. Our prayers go out to you and your friends family.

We lost our neighbors son a couple of years ago due to speeding at a age of 16.
I send this story to my son's computer who just turned 16 in December, and I'm telling him all the time that speeding doesn't get you anywhere except in trouble with the law or killed. But Jung adults think their just untouchable and a lot of them have to learn it the hard way, including my son.
He got a speeding ticked last Monday for driving 79 in a 55 miles per hour zone, so I took his license and car keys away from him for 4 weeks and told him that he can think about speeding when he rides the school bus for the next 4 weeks.
This is the first time my son ever got in trouble with me or the law, he doesn't do drugs and is a honor student from the first day in school with a grade point average of 99.7.
Drugs are a big factor in every bodies live, but I also think that the fines are way to mild in the States.
If you get a speeding ticked in Europe and drive 24 miles over the limit, you will be walking for two years and I mean walking because you will not get a special license to drive back and forth to work like I see so many times in the States.

Gunter

David,

Sorry for the loss of your friend Ryan. Be thankful for the time you shared together....

Our condolences to you, his family and friends.

Sad news:-Bear

Sorry to hear.