One Driver Changed Our Lives Forever

Our lives are more valuable than silver or gold, yet we risk losing them every day on the road among the uneducated drivers of the world. My name is Joseph Cervantes and nearly 2 decades ago, my entire family was nearly killed as a result of an uneducated drunk driver. My father was driving home from a church service with my pregnant mother in the passenger seat and my two older brothers in the back. Everyone was buckled and my father was driving the speed limit. Everything seemed to be going as normal as any other Sunday afternoon. However, in one instant my family’s lives would be forever changed.

As our car approached an intersection with a green light providing us the right of way, a single motorist ran a red light and crushed right into the passenger side of our vehicle perfectly colliding with the front and rear doors. Our car flipped several times before coming to a complete stop. My father momentarily knocked unconscious woke up to pull my brother Michael out of the smoking totaled car. Dazed and confused, bystander laid him on the sidewalk and called 911 while they ran to check on my brother Chris and my mother Katherine. My mom was completely lodged in between several metal pieces that the fire department had to use the jaws of life to pry open in order to remove her. My mother had over 47 different breaks, lost an enormous amount of blood, and was barely alive upon transport to the hospital.

The most tragic of the whole situation was that of my brother Chris. Only 7 years of age and a superstar with regards to being a student and athlete. Chris loved to play guitar and sing. He was a socialite who was loved by our community whom he connected so easily with. That day he was hit so hard that he was put into coma that would last almost an entire month. He lost everything. Chris had to learn all over again how to walk, talk, and with bruising on his brain he’s been labeled as a disabled individual. Hit basic motor skills were taken. His life was changed at that moment forever.

My mother recovered after a year of intense treatment and therapy. Then she and my father were tasked with the labor of love to care for a severely disabled child, another traumatized son, and me as a newborn who the doctors advised my parents to abort because they assumed I would be a vegetable.

That one selfish event on the part of the driver who chose to drink, and drive could’ve been avoided if there was proper education for new drivers and the effects on others if you drive drunk. The man responsible served only 1 year in jail and was released on good behavior. Although my family forgave him, he was able to live out his life with only a small sentence and some scratches and bruising that quickly healed.

I believe if that was instituted from a state and federal level with strict consequences and rules for training as part of the licensing process, a lot of lives may have been saved, and families like mine would not have endured just devastating tragedy. The same tragedy countless families endure every day in America. Mothers, fathers, son, daughters receive calls daily with the news that either a loved one has been injured and their life has been taken in a senseless accident that could’ve easily been avoided in the proper process and procedure was put in place to ensure safety for everyone.

Finally, I believe we change make lasting impact by reform through the following when licensing new individuals. First, we can provide a mandatory 2 hour course of proper driving education that includes emphasis on speed, awareness, and caution while on the road with strict testing in order to pass. Next, we can require current driver to take the same training and testing every 2 years in order to maintain the license. Lastly, by imposing stricter fines, revocations for violators, and jail sentences for repeat or criminal violators as in the case of my family, the road would be a much safer, enjoyable place for all of us and the futures generations. Ultimately, what we do now will either set the tone in respect for the law or what we do not do will set the tone for disrespect of the law for those generations that follow. The ball in our court to make lasting change.