Hope Fire Company - Fatal Decisions

Every 15 minutes a person is killed in the United Stated from an alcohol related accident. That was the theme for a community awareness program where 3 mock accidents were produced to show the citizens the tragic impact of a DUI accidents. The simulations were complete with patient injuries, fire and EMS response, sobriety test and arrest by PD, pronouncement of death by the coroner, and the taking of the victim's soul by the "grim reaper". Hopefully, through programs like this, people will realize the full impact and tragedy which occurs to the victims, families, friends, and to the personnel who respond to these accidents. Please think before you drink.

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Please God, I'm only 17
Agony claws my mind, I am a statistic. When I first got here I was overwhelmed with grief and I expected to find sympathy. I found none. I saw only thousands of others whose bodies were as badly mangled as mine. I was given a number and placed in a category. The category was called "Drunk Driving Traffic Fatalities".

The day I died was an ordinary weekend. How I wished I didn't go to that party. But I was too cool not to go, since I was the life of the parties. I remembered how I stumbled out to the car and one of my friends pleaded with me, not to drive drunk. Hey I am 17, I told him and can handle driving like this. How I wished that I would have listen to my friend that day. If I could only turn back the hands of time.

It doesn't matter how the accident happened. I was drunk, going too fast, taking crazy chances. But I was enjoying my freedom and having fun. The last think I remember was passing an old lady who seemed to be going awfully slow. I heard a deafening crash and felt a terrible jolt. Glass and steel flew everywhere. My whole body seemed to be turning inside out. I heard myself scream.

Suddenly I awakened. It was very quiet. A police officer was standing over me. Then I saw a doctor. My whole body was mangled. I was saturated with blood. Pieces of jagged glass was sticking out all over me. Strange that I couldn't feel anything. "Hey, don't pull that sheet over my head, I'm only 17! I'm supposed to grow up and have a wonderful life. I haven't lived yet! I can't be dead!"

Later I was placed in a drawer. My folks had to identify me. Why did they have to see me like this? Why did I have to look at Mom's eyes when she faced the most terrible ordeal of her life? Dad suddenly looked like an old man. He told the man in charge, "Yes, he is our son."

The funeral was a weird experience. I saw all my relatives and friends walk toward the casket. They passed by, one by one, and looked at me with the saddest eyes I've ever seen. Some of my buddies were crying. A few of the girls touched my hand and sobbed as they walked away.

Please...somebody....wake me up!! Get me out of here!! I can't bear to see my mom and dad so broken up. My grandparents are so racked with grief they can barely walk. My brother and sister are like zombies. They move like robots in a daze. No one can believe it either.

Please don't bury me! Get me out of here! I have a list of things to do! I want to laugh and run again. I want to sing and dance. Please don't put me in the ground. I promise if you give me one more chance, God, I'll NEVER drink again. All I want is one more chance! Please God, I'm only 17!