Horrible Accident

[Feralpeg]

There was a horrible accident near Kansas City this past weekend. Two couples in their twenty's and an 18 year old boy were killed when the van they were driving crossed over into oncoming traffic and hit a semi head-on. They were on their way home to Canada from a vacation at Disney World. One of the women killed was pregnant. There was one survivor. An 8 month old boy was found strapped in his car seat. The seat had been ejected from the car. The police found him sitting in his seat in the middle of the highway. All of the others were also ejected. No one had been wearing seatbelts. Although, in this case, I'm not sure that seatbelts would have made a difference. There was nothing left of the van.

The police think the driver probably fell asleep at the wheel. It was raining at the time, so that could also have contributed.

Folks, please don't drive if your tired. I know that after a vacation, we are all tired and just want to get home. It's not worth taking the chance. Everyone thinks it can't happen to them. It can! If you have to drive, make sure that at least one other person in the vehicle stays awake to talk to the driver. It is very easy to getting sleepy on a long drive.

The grandparents are on their way down from Canada to pick up their grandchild. So very sad!

 

[Microcell]

Where was I this weekend that I didn't hear about that? Oh yeah watching KU lose and making my DS cry from my frustrated screaming at the TV. That is too bad. Poor baby. Why do people insist on not wearing seatbelts?????

 

[Kimberle]

How very sad. Many prayers for the families.

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

Oh, that is so tragic. Words cannot express how sad this is.

 

[UncleKyle]

So tragic. The same exact thing happened here in Kentucky a year or so ago. I family of 7 traveling in a van to Disney crossed onto incoming traffic and hit a semi. A young boy survived but he lost his mom, dad, and brothers and sisters.

 

[Ratpack]

Prayers go out to the little boy and the grandparents. And I agree, if you are tired, stop driving find a room and rest. One nights room charge and even another missed day at work are a much better price to pay than this.

 

[Serena]

That's heartbreaking.

 

[crazyforgoofy]

Being a former Kansas Citian I had to read more about this. My heart breaks for the families. Three of the dead were visiting from Germany.


http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/8300512.htm?1c

 

[zurgswife]

prayers for the family...very sad

 

[Rajah]

 

[Freyja]

Thank you so much for reminding us never to drive when we are very tired. I watched a show on the Discovery channel the other day, where they were showing scenes from an ER and I thought one of the doctors in charge said it very well:

Always buckle up!
Never drink and drive!
And remember, there is usually nothing to be done after midnight that can´t wait til the morning!

In his opinion, you have done everything you can to prevent anything bad happening to you out in the traffic, if you just follow the guidelines mentioned above.

 

[floridafam]

How awful

I never drive tired on the way home from Disney World and I tell my DH that I'd rather have him miss another day or work and get home late than drive tired.

That poor baby. He will be in our thoughts.

 

[Lorix2]

This is so tragic

This is exactly why we stop when we feel we should, it's not worth the risk to our family or someone else's. Even if someone is "keeping the driver awake", an exhausted driver's reactions and senses are much more sluggish and therefore, endangering everyone with them and around them when they get to that point of needing someone to keep them up.

Here in NH, a young recently married couple was returning home from visiting family and the wife fell asleep while driving and they both were killed instantly.

 

[WDWLVR]

Very tragic indeed and a good reminder not to push behind the wheel. I'd rather take a break for the night and take more time getting home than to be involved in something like this. Vacation is supposed to be relaxing, but I think we all try to stretch things too far sometimes. Prayers to the family members and that poor little boy.

 

[Dan Murphy]

So sad and so many good thoughts here. I have pulled over at times to take a break while driving, a 30 minute nap can be a life saver.