Live Fast, Die Young…
~ How many times have you heard the above phrase used casually, and with complete disregard to the full implications of its real meaning?Of course, ‘Live fast, die young, and have a good looking corpse’ is the entire phrase.
It is often used flippantly and without thought to the real implications of what death at a young age really means to those who have lost their lives, and to those left behind dealing with the loss.
I have even used the saying myself. Hopefully, I will have the foresight to never speak those words again.
I’m writing about this because a few days ago, the 17 year old daughter of a friend died needlessly in an horrific automobile accident.
The car was driven by her 17 year old boy friend – who also died.
They were driving on a notorious stretch of country road at high speed. This particular section of road – commonly referred to as ‘The Big Dipper’ – is popular with young, teenage drivers because it is long, straight and has several large ‘dips’ in it giving you the sensation of speeding up and down a roller coaster.
The young man had recently bought the car he was driving via the online auction site, eBay. I don’t know what make and model it was, but according to police reports it was a V8; a powerful eight cylinder car that no 17 year old on ‘P’ plates* should be allowed to drive.
Last Saturday, Valentine’s Day, this young couple went for a drive in the Adelaide hills. Did they go out with the deliberate intention of driving along this stretch of road, or did they just happen to find themselves in its vicinity?
We’ll never know.
What we do know is that as they raced up and down the deep troughs of the ‘big dipper’, the young man’s V8 became airborne as it shot over a rise, travelled some 40-50 metres through the air, and smashed head on into a tree by the side of the road.
It might be comforting to think this moment of madness; this moment of youthful ‘fun’, ended in instant death – or death on impact.
It didn’t.
As neighbours rushed to the scene, drawn by the sound of the impact, the car burst into flames, and screams could be heard coming from those caught inside.
Now two families have been left to deal with the tragic loss of a son, daughter, brother, sister. Police and emergency services workers are left to deal with the psychological stress of having to remove charred remains from the scene of yet another horrific accident. Local residents are left with the sound of screaming, and who knows how many friends and acquaintances have been left behind to mourn the senseless loss of these two young people. May we all at least, learn something from this tragedy.
And may Joe and Julia rest in peace.
*P-Plates: In South Australia all new drivers, no matter what their age, are restricted to a Provisional Drivers Licence – commonly called a ‘P’ plate – for the first two years of their driving life. This Provisional Licence comes with numerous conditions and strict penalties apply to those caught breaking them.
I’m writing about this because a few days ago, the 17 year old daughter of a friend died needlessly in an horrific automobile accident.
The car was driven by her 17 year old boy friend – who also died.
They were driving on a notorious stretch of country road at high speed. This particular section of road – commonly referred to as ‘The Big Dipper’ – is popular with young, teenage drivers because it is long, straight and has several large ‘dips’ in it giving you the sensation of speeding up and down a roller coaster.
The young man had recently bought the car he was driving via the online auction site, eBay. I don’t know what make and model it was, but according to police reports it was a V8; a powerful eight cylinder car that no 17 year old on ‘P’ plates* should be allowed to drive.
Last Saturday, Valentine’s Day, this young couple went for a drive in the Adelaide hills. Did they go out with the deliberate intention of driving along this stretch of road, or did they just happen to find themselves in its vicinity?
We’ll never know.
What we do know is that as they raced up and down the deep troughs of the ‘big dipper’, the young man’s V8 became airborne as it shot over a rise, travelled some 40-50 metres through the air, and smashed head on into a tree by the side of the road.
It might be comforting to think this moment of madness; this moment of youthful ‘fun’, ended in instant death – or death on impact.
It didn’t.
As neighbours rushed to the scene, drawn by the sound of the impact, the car burst into flames, and screams could be heard coming from those caught inside.
Now two families have been left to deal with the tragic loss of a son, daughter, brother, sister. Police and emergency services workers are left to deal with the psychological stress of having to remove charred remains from the scene of yet another horrific accident. Local residents are left with the sound of screaming, and who knows how many friends and acquaintances have been left behind to mourn the senseless loss of these two young people. May we all at least, learn something from this tragedy.
And may Joe and Julia rest in peace.
*P-Plates: In South Australia all new drivers, no matter what their age, are restricted to a Provisional Drivers Licence – commonly called a ‘P’ plate – for the first two years of their driving life. This Provisional Licence comes with numerous conditions and strict penalties apply to those caught breaking them.
- Photo courtesy of the Adelaide Advertiser.
Labels: Road Accidents
posted by Jim Lesses at
1:52 PM
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