Twelve Years Later..

Darya Thompson

Drivers ed
Award

There
have been many cases where people have ruled that bungee jumping,
tight roping, and sky diving are acts that could be dangerous in
nature. As a person that has been in numerous car accidents, driving
would be considered just as dangerous. Driving can be a problem when
the person is not responsible enough to realize when he/she is or is
not aware of the safety precautions. The laws along with the rules
and regulations are set in place for a safe, effective driving
experience for the experienced and beginner. If these rules were
followed as efficiently, there would not be as many deaths as there
are on the roads today. The most affective way to become
knowledgeable about the rules of the road is to study the driver’s
manual that is provided for you at your local Department of Motor
Vehicles (DMV).

I
was involved in a life-threatening care accident in 2007 that
resulted in a death of a close family member of mine. At the time I
was ten years old wearing my favorite Disney world t-shirt. Well, I
really can not say that it was my favorite considering that it was my
only Disney t-shirt. My family and friends just came back from Disney
a few months prior to the accident. The day of the car accident my
grandparents were headed to Memphis to drop off my cousin that was
nine years old at the time. We had spent the whole summer together
having fun and visiting different family members that we do not visit
often. That day, there were five passengers in the car: me, my
younger cousin, my older cousin, and my grandparents. I was asleep
just before the rolling happened; we were hit on the side of a cliff.
We rolled more times than I could even count. All I remember is
waking up, rolling, and yelling “please STOP”! As the car rolled
for the final time, I watched as everyone’s injuries took on more
than the moment. I also noticed in that moment that my younger cousin
was not in the vehicle. It was not until I was transmitted from a
hospital in Grenada to the University Medical Center in Jackson, MS
that I received the news of her death. She flew out of the car during
one of the rolls and hit her head on a rock. My grandmother had to
have metal rods placed in both of her legs that my mom cleaned daily.
My grandfather had a gait that lasted him until his death last year.
My cousin eyeball was placed back into his socket, and I was left
with minor injuries.

My
story is to let people know that no matter what happens forgive and
learn better. The guy that hit us was forgiven for the pain that was
on our family. I learn that know matter what, I would exhaust all
means necessary to ensure that safety is the priority in my vehicle!