Yes, we must certainly remember this young lady was ALLEGEDLY driving under the influence. She is innocent until proven guilty. Whether impaired by alcohol or drugs or stone sober, her life will never be the same. Likewise with each and every family that lost a loved one or those who will spend the rest of their lives trying to recover from debilitating injuries. One has to ask, is there any good that can come from such a tragic event.
Our community is home to a major State university. Each Spring we put up with "Faux Patty's Day". This drunken mess is held the weekend before St. Patrick's Day. Thousands of young folk from across the region descend on our town for a 24 hour drunk. Bars open early and stay open late. We bring in additional Police and Fire personnel. Our EMT teams and our emergency rooms are packed. Yet, for years, our City fathers champion this event due to the filling of hotel rooms and financial windfall for bar and restaurant owners.
OSU has what is advertised as "the World's Largest Homecoming Parade". Would have to believe the college students consume tremendous amounts of alcohol as they "tune up" for this parade and the following football game. Why can't this tragedy become a lesson in enforcement of alcohol regulations instead of simply saying "kids will be kids"?? Why can't something this damaging be used as a tool to save lives in the future?? To me, that would be the only good to come from yesterday's incident.
