Heaven’s Angels: The Toll of Reckless Driving

On April 12, 2012, a piece of my soul died at the hands of a reckless and selfish individual that decided to get behind the wheel of his car after consuming a large amount of alcohol at a bar. While I am fortunate and thank God to this day that my life was spared, unfortunately the same cannot be said for my friend Andrea. Andrea was a beautiful girl, inside and out. She’d been one of my best friends and closest confidants since we were in middle school. On April 12, 2012, the Earth lost an angel and part of my soul went with her.

We had just graduated from Spring Valley High School here in Columbia, SC the prior June of 2011. She was attending University of South Carolina getting her bachelor’s in psychology, while I was in the dental assisting program at Midlands Technical College. Both schools’ campuses were relatively close to each other, and we got our first apartment together as roommates. Life was good. We were living the college life, waiting tables at the same restaurant, and working on our futures.

My favorite time of year is spring. I think both the scenery and weather here in South Carolina during that time of year are beautiful and perfect. The plan was low-key: we were meeting a couple of our girl friends for a casual dinner, which we did with them every other week or so, just wanting to stay close and stay updated on each other’s lives. Andrea and I had prepared and ate many meals together. I just wish I knew that this would have been our last. I would have savored every single second.

I’d never been in a car accident before, luckily. But it really does happen in a matter of what feels like a second, the same way it usually gets depicted in movies and TV. We were maybe two miles at most away from our apartment, which is located off a dimly lit street. I was the one driving, and out of what feels like literally nowhere, another vehicle appeared and crashed into the passenger side of my car. After my car came to a stop, all I remember the smell of gasoline and deafening sound of crushed metal. It all happened so quickly, and a lot of my memories regarding this night are hazy. My therapist told me this is common with people that have been in traumatic car accidents. Along with a shattered collarbone and fractured wrist, I suffered a mild concussion because of that night. I’m convinced my subconscious is stuffing the memories deep down in a place of my brain I cannot access, but at least I didn’t leave the scene of the accident in a body bag. Even to this day, over a decade later, I have an immense amount of survivor’s guilt – but at least I have my life.

Medical staff fought valiantly to save her life, but the damaged caused by this drunk driver’s recklessness was unfortunately too severe. My Andrea, my partner in crime, the most vivacious and kind-hearted soul I ever had the pleasure of knowing, was gone. Her life snuffed out and stolen from her by the irresponsible actions of another. She was somebody’s daughter, sister, girlfriend, granddaughter, friend. Her family was devastated, and their lives forever altered.

Irresponsible and reckless driving, in any way, sets a dangerous precedent and places a significant burden on law enforcement and the healthcare system. Many emergency responders are often tasked with attending the aftermath of an accident, which diverts resources from other critical situations – many of which were not preventable like a drunk driving accident can be by simply calling an Uber. Society ultimately bears the weight of these consequences, which is one of many reasons that it is imperative to address and combat irresponsible driving behaviors.

Education is key when it comes to combating the menace of reckless driving and raising awareness about the consequences of reckless behavior and is also a key component in fostering responsible and safe drivers. Community involvement can be vital in addressing reckless driving, as neighborhoods and local organizations can organize awareness campaigns, workshops, and events to educate the public about the dangers of irresponsible driving and to encourage responsible behavior behind the wheel.

In addition to stricter enforcement of traffic laws, law enforcement agencies should actively target and penalize these reckless drivers as a means of deterring others from making those same mistakes.

Reckless driving is a grave issue that unfortunately affects countless lives every day. While I am fortunate enough to still have my life, many others that have been in my situation left in a coroner’s van like Andrea rather than in an ambulance like me. To combat this menace, it is crucial to promote safe driving practices through education, community involvement, and enforcement of traffic laws. Ultimately, we must all play our part in creating a safer, more responsible driving culture for the benefit of all of those that get behind the wheel.