Perhaps they are not stars

I went to a memorial service for a twenty year old today. A beautiful talented twenty year old whom I only knew through her father. There were hundreds of people there, something of a who's who if you cared to look around Wait Chapel.


Elena was killed at 8:30 p.m. on September 11, 2009. She was murdered by a gentleman, a doctor sworn to 'do no harm', who had too many drinks and stuck the keys in his Mercedes anyway and plowed into her at 85 mph. To me that's the same as had he used a gun.
Winston-Salem Journal story
(Photo by Steve Davis)

Elena Bright Shapiro Scholarship at UNCSA

For all the times I've said 'drive safe' or 'call me when you get there' it doesn't make a bit of difference when an arrogant, stupid, inebriated driver takes to the road. There wasn't a thing in the world Elena or her family could have done differently to make the situation have a better outcome.

Statistics:

• On average someone is killed by a drunk driver every 45 minutes.
• A first time drunk driving offender on average has driven drunk 87 times prior to being arrested.
• About three in every ten Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives.

Updated story on charges against the driver
(who has a previous DWI charge)