Comments on: Leftlane’s Spy Diaries: A desert tragedy

By: rodea

rodea — Sun, 09 May 2010 07:18:46 +0000

Unfortunately many buses and vans aren’t equipped with seat belts for the passengers. Being a student, I often ride in commercial vans for tours and trips and more often than not I find myself without a seat belt.

By: fan

fan — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:29:44 +0000

there is really no poin in bashing onto people who died because they made a – however stupid – mistake. gosh, they were kids, but i suppose those on here who think they deserved no better for being stupid, apparently never were young, did something stupid. as for the driver… anyone on here who never EVER was tired when driving? anyone? no? well, thought so.
of course, he could have taken care of the kids being buckled up… apparently, he didnt, or he did, but the kids wouldnt listen… anyone ever tried to get a bunch of 14-17 year olds do what you say?

lets all not forget two things about being human:

1) if you live, you make mistakes. everyone. people who never make mistakes dont live.

2) the human body is a sturdy machine. it can take cold, heat, hunger, thirst for quite some time. it can also take quite some “physical damage”. but only up to a certain point. so take care

amen…

@ jimmy: your story sounds familiar to me. kinda same reason why i will not let anyone ride with me who refuses to wear the buckle; or why i pull over if someone unbuckles and refuses to rebuckle.
i, too, tell my story – which is very similar to yours – then; and usually have the wise ass who thinks seatbelts are stupid close to tears. and buckled up in no time.

By: jimmyblaze

jimmyblaze — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:47:04 +0000

Thanks for the touching story and the simple reminder to buckle up. It saved my life and that of my sister, brother-in-law and niece who were passengers in my car and seatbelted. We were involved in a really bad accident when a mini van ran a light back in 1999. I have a busted knee and some shoulder pain 10 years later but, I’m still here to talk about it. I have to replay this accident for the people I carpool with when they don’t want to wear it. I’m an avid believer in seatbelts and EVERYONE in the car buckling up.

By: TL

TL — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 06:43:38 +0000

Perhaps everyone can learn from the mistakes made.
Thank you Brenda for this article. It reminds of the simple things in life that can save a life…

And TrippleOneFive, no need for your criticism.

By: A4

A4 — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 22:06:31 +0000

1115, they were probably in an American vehicle too, right? Communist.

By: iluvamcars

iluvamcars — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:52:31 +0000

Very disrespectful 1115.

-iluvamcars

By: TrippleOneFive

TrippleOneFive — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:09:51 +0000

These kids were being stupid enough not to wear seatbelts. The driver was a complete moron and drove while tired. Everyone in the vehicle were being very very stupid. That is my opinion.

By: NRG

NRG — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:27:47 +0000

This story has reminded me of why we wear seat belts. I don’t wear mine as often as I should, especially since I was involved in a serious car accident myself in ’05 in Flagstaff, AZ. I also fell asleep at the wheel and hit a full grown pine tree head on. I broke my nose in 15 places and I wasn’t wearing a seat belt either. I won’t go into details. It’s too gory, but it took about 4 months to recover and about a year for full recovery. The car was crushed from the front bumper all the way too the dashboard. I am lucky I didn’t get ejected and didn’t have any other injuries. Makes me shudder to think what I went through. I’m lucky I am alive with no lingering effects.

I now live in the Phoenix area. You don’t want to get into an accident here in the desert in the middle of the summer. It’s over 100 degrees every day here during that time of year. I had a mild case of heat stroke when I took a summer job on ’06. Not fun.

WEAR YOUR SEAT BELTS, PLEASE.

Good story Brenda. It’s a good reminder to everyone to buckle up. To think that could have been me. Wow.

By: MarkKleis

MarkKleis — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:21:34 +0000

They were kids… let’s not forget that. They were also human, and we all make mistakes. Sadly, this mistake cost them their lives.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and pictures Brenda, they were very touching.

By: beatusmongous

beatusmongous — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:32:29 +0000

Seat belts are mandatory in many states here, too.

By: spg900

spg900 — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:00:27 +0000

Being from Canada where seat belts are mandatory, I can’t for the life of me see why someone would CHOOSE not to wear it. I know, I know……. there’s this BIG BROTHER hang-up down south of us !

By: zfenderguy

zfenderguy — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:12:02 +0000

Good writeup Brenda. I hope some people read this and learn from it. That would be the ultimate service to these people.

By: fitzla

fitzla — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:06:55 +0000

Thanks for posting this story, Brenda. It is indeed a tragic story. Would this by any chance be the pearblossom highway through the California desert? I have spent too much time on that highway heading from Los Angeles to Vegas, and I won’t drive it anymore. (thank god for the 210 expansion) I have too seen to many accidents on that hwy. Scary and sad!

By: RaineMan

RaineMan — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:22:21 +0000

Tragic, for sure.

However, I have little sympathy for people who don’t have the common sense enough to wear their seat belts. These kids were old enough to know better.

By: beatusmongous

beatusmongous — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:12:43 +0000

Arizona is famous for the roadside crosses which are visited by loved ones rather regularly. The highways through the desert are very desolate and treacherous, and sometimes I’m amazed at the total lack of respect for these big machines that we operate at high speeds. Driving is a full time job.

Recently, I’ve seen a lot of these crosses start to creep up into my city as well. There was a racing accident a few years ago that resulted in a Ford Thunderbird torn in half, literally, after it collided with a street light pole at over 90mph, and killing four teenagers. Ever since, there have been crosses and flowers and pictures attached to that pole. In my opinion, even though the accident was a horrible thing, foolishness should never be praised. However, I’m sure the families of those individuals feel otherwise, and it does serve as a reminder to slow down as you come over the crest where the car lost control.

Good story, Brenda. Thanks for the reality check.

By: moparsalesman1

moparsalesman1 — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:46:44 +0000

seat belts people wear your seatbelts

By: dmlgc

dmlgc — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:45:47 +0000

Brenda ,
Nice article it is always good when people note someone’s passing even if they didn’t know them, it shows we still have humanity.

Thanks

By: JakeK66

JakeK66 — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:26:18 +0000

Poor kids. I had an Ex who came over from england on something like this. I’m sure she never had her seat belt fastened, It’s hard to imagine being a part of something that’s this bad, it’s incomprehensible and scarey to even think about.