Thursday 23 July 2009

Tragedy ...

My husband came home Monday to say he had heard some tragic news. A local man (
a father of 7 children ~aged 6 -18) had been killed in a motorbike accident
on Sunday.Someone who came into our business had mentioned it to him in passing conversation.

We knew S because he had been a customer of ours a few years ago. He was a local real estate agent at the time. A few years later we purchased a new (7yr old) house through his agency. It was with one of his employees though not S.

The day we had the settlement on our house S was there for the final inspection. The day was very significant in that is was also the day we had to say our final goodbyes to our baby daughter. We couldn't delay the settlement without major penalties.

It only involved us having a 'walk' through inspection of the house so we went ahead despite the circumstances and her funeral being 2 hrs later. S was very sensitive and very caring. He expressed his genuine sympathy. I was very, very surprised. It made a big impact.

Then he mentioned his baby daughter had died two years prior.He offered us his card and phone numbers ...said if we needed to talk (or to his wife too even)...

By coincidence I later met his wife at a Baby/pregnancy loss support group .Their infant daughter had died at 18 days old tragically from meningitis. His wife came to the monthly support group only a few times as she had 6 children (another son had been born after they lost their daughter). Though children were welcome at the support group there was no childcare. As you can imagine it was difficult with noisy toddlers, running about, to grieve so she stopped coming.

Though I did not know S personally I feel tremendous sadness for his loss, for his 6 living children. They were on holidays at the time. The newspaper alleges his motorcycle was hit by a car doing a U turn. It will affect their lives forever , as well as the other children in sporting teams he had coached , his family and friends.

My bloggy friend Al, who blogs at 3 timesKewl also has a new blog called One second. A blog to promote and encourage people into safer driving and making safe decisions when about to drive.

One second is all it takes for someone to make a fatal mistake when driving. Al's husband lost his life due a drink driver, a tragic victim of another man's bad choices. Al, lost the love of her life and his children lost their father forever.

One second is all it takes to make good choices too .
It aims to facilitate discussion and help raise awareness of safe driving practices.Most importantly, it is about giving conscious thought to your defining seconds, and making them count.

My favourite from one of Al's latest posts ... only because I can't link this bit directly.

Every time you get behind the wheel, you take people's lives in your hands.

Every time you turn the wheel to steer around a corner - you choose life.
Every time you break - for a red light, to adhere the speed limit, to safely take the bend - you choose life.
For every second you have your eyes on the road - you are choosing life.

Alcohol
Drugs
Speeding
Driving distracted

These things impede your ability to turn the wheel, to take the bend, to see the red light, to drive safely -

To choose life.


Please go visit her blogs and encourage her too.


21 comments :

Alison from One Second said...

Oh Trish, I am so sorry to hear this news. My heart goes out to S' family and all those affected by his death, and my thoughts and prayers are with them also.

To lose any life is tragic for those left behind - but to lose a life in just One Second, because a person does not take just One Second to choose safe driving - that is so very wrong.

Thank you for choosing to raise awareness, Trish.

Jen at Semantically driven said...

That's awful Trish. Motorbikes are so dangerous - usually because of other drivers not seeing them.

Dina Roberts said...

It's so sad, horrible, and scary.

I'm sorry : (

Blossom said...

I am so sorry to hear this news....right after a friend lost her mum in a head on car crash y'day.

sigh...............

MissyBoo said...

So very sorry to hear. Hugs to you xxx

FET Accompli said...

That is such terrible news. And to think it might have been prevented with prudent driving... Either way, it is just so sad.

ICLW

Mum-me said...

That is really tragic. My thoughts and prayer are with the family.

And the last comments in this post are just so true. I drove to Port Stephens and back this past week. I found myself getting really angry at those idiots who whiz past me, while I am sitting on the speed limit with cruise control on. I was so upset that they were willing to not only risk their own lives by speeding, but also my life and the lives of my children and every other responsible road user around them. Why do they do it???

Anonymous said...

Oh, how tragic. I am so so sorry to hear this news :(

Secret Mom Thoughts said...

So sad. My heart goes out to the family.

Liddy said...

That is so tragic. My heart goes out to S's family.

I lost my best friend because of two distracted semi-truck drivers. She was killed instantly after being crushed.

I cringe now when I think how car makers are making cars into mobile offices. That seat that folds down where you can put your laptop. Are you kidding me? I see more people driving on their phones, putting make up on, and reading a book.

Stopping by for an ICLW visit...
No. 95: The Unfair Struggle (male-factor infertility, good friends, neighborhood rumblings)

Courtney said...

That is so tragic. I will definitely keep that family in my prayers.

ICLW

Jeanette said...

Shame man, that poor family!

Karen said...

What a sad situation! I feel so bad for his family. It must be even worse to know that his death was preventable. I'll keep his family in my thoughts.

ICLW

Lifeslurper said...

Goodness me, the things we never hear about, and most of us never consider is that the affects of road fatalities never go away...ever!

My family lost a member 50+ years ago thanks to a drink driver, and the trickle down issues that stem from such a tragedy go on even today..all starting with a baby left without a mother.

Being out on the road has to be treated with such diligence. There is no place for speed, rage or textting!

Trish..thank you for sharing. My heart goes out to the family of 'S'.

Brandy said...

Stopping by after you visited my blog. Such a sad story! That's why I hate motorcycles. You can be the safest bike rider on the road, but you can't control what the cars around you do. How sad for his family.

www.brandysheaif.blogspot.com

..al said...

Am so sorry for the death...


Traffic sense..that's a dying civility!


ICLW

Rosey said...

How tragic. I feel for S and 6 children. I see and hear of so much craziness on the roads - it is scary.

Beautiful Mess said...

Oh no! My heart goes out to those children and his friends and family. Sending out lots of love and peace to ALL of you. I'm so sorry!
*HUGS*

Michelle said...

That is so so sad! My heart breaks for that family and they are in my thoughts. ((HUGS))

Unknown said...

What a sad, sad loss. And for such a thoughtless reason. Sounds like he will be missed by many. Good on you for raising awareness for such an important cause.
xx

jeanie said...

Oh that poor family - how awful for them.

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