My wife and I were out and about the other day, and she wanted to go to Marshall’s. As we were sitting at the light, on Meadowdale, I noticed flowers and what not, on the other side of the intersection, indicating that someone had probably lost their life. I said to Becky, “I wonder what happened there?” Becky had actually seen this on the news, and knew the details. Let me start by saying: I did not know the people involved in this horrific crash, but I took time to pray over everyone involved. As I heard the story of this accident, I have not been able to get past key parts of this unfortunate event that cost a young man his life. I am going to walk through an accident that was racked with issues. You may not agree with what I have to say, but I feel like I need to discuss them anyway.
News reports, from investigators, state that the crash was caused by a drunk driver who ran the stoplight on Hopkins Road. Drinking and driving has been a significant problem in our country for decades. Alcoholic drink is an evil of our society. It has wrecked lives, from so many perspectives. As a Coast Guardsman, I dealt with the effects of alcohol, in the lives of fellow Coast Guardsmen. As a firefighter, I responded to many accidents caused by those under the influence of alcohol, as well as seeing alcohol being the cause of some firefighters losing their jobs. Alcohol is a mind-altering drug that adversely affects a person’s judgement and ability to function. Whatever causes a person to drink is one thing. It is a much bigger issue when a person under the influence of alcohol decides to get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. In my opinion, a person who drinks and drives, have no regard for his safety, the safety of those in his vehicle, or the safety of people outside of his vehicle. This is an ill of our society that will long outlive us. It causes each of us to take an additional moment, when the light turns green, to look both ways, to ensure that traffic is going to stop.
The next thing to say about this crash was that the person who ran the stoplight did not have a driver’s license. For those of us who drive a motor vehicle in the USA, we know that driving is a privilege and not a right. All law-abiding citizens know that they are required to have valid state driver’s licenses, in order to get behind the wheels of those vehicles. In fact, I drive our teams when I go to South Africa. The rental company that we use stated that the only requirement was to have a valid state driver’s license in order to drive in South Africa. When stopped at a traffic check in the Limpopo Province, I learned how wrong the rental company was. From that moment since, I have an International Driving Permit every time that I go. A driver’s license does not prevent an accident under any circumstance, but that license does indicate a level of training and certification. A person caught driving without a license falls into a few possible categories:
• There is the possibility that a person is driving without a valid license because he left it somewhere, although everyone knows that you are supposed to have your license with you when driving.
• In this unusual time of COVID, it has been near impossible to get a license renewed on time. Regulations require that you appear at DMV, but you must work to get it renewed.
• Some people have had their license revoked, for whatever reason, and choose to drive anyway.
• Some people never had a license in the first place.
The law states that in order to drive a motor vehicle you must have a valid driver’s license, and that is enough said.
The third thing I will addresse in this unfortunate and avoidable crash that took the life of one young man and landed another young man in jail is one that has been politicized, in our country. This drunk driver was in this country illegally. Wherever you stand on this issue, it is an issue nonetheless. I have been a part the life of a Hong Konger who made the journey to become a U.S. citizen. I can also understand, based upon my opportunity to travel outside of this country, why a person would want to bring his family to America. However, just as other countries around this globe have requirements for you to enter, so does the United States. To live here, you must have the proper documentation. If you are here illegally, then you need to make that right, even if it means that you must go back to come back. I am not in favor of open borders. Every citizen of a country has a responsibility to know what it means to be a citizen of that country.
The issues of this accident are gut-wrenching. In my mind, it revealed a complete disregard for the law and for the lives of others. I stand on the side of law and order. I support our police emphatically. I support I.C.E. and the difficult job that they have to do. It is a blessing to live in this country, and it is because of the freedom that we have, which many gave all to preserve. As I watch people try to erase our history and heritage, I pray that righteousness will prevail. I believe that there are three must-nots in this situation:
• A person must not drink and drive.
• A person must not drive a motor vehicle without a driver’s license.
• A person must not be here illegally, without trying to do whatever is necessary to expeditiously obtain the right documentation to be here.
It breaks my heart that a young man lost his life in this tragic collision.
