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Singer Loses Daughter in Backover Accident
Jun 04 2008 by Courtney Messenbaugh
6/4/08
Raise Awareness So These Tragedies End
I detest having to write about this again, but we are obviously not being careful enough. Let me hit you with some raw data first to get your attention: According to Kids and Cars, 15 children in the U.S. lost their lives last month as a result of being run over in a driveway or parking lot, and many more were critically injured in the same way. Because these kinds of accidents aren’t tracked by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Kids and Cars gathers its statistics from news reports and word of mouth, meaning its numbers could seriously understate the problem.
It’s time to educate ourselves and others so we can end these types of accidents once and for all.
My impetus for writing about this again is that Steven Curtis Chapman, a five-time Grammy-winning Christian singer with millions of fans all over the world, lost his daughter, 5-year-old Maria Sue Chapman, May 21 when one of his teenage sons inadvertently backed over her. Maria’s brother simply could not see her in the large blind zone behind the SUV he was backing up in their driveway.
The latest edition of People magazine covers this tragedy in an article titled “Grief Beyond Words.” I don’t know the Chapmans at all — in fact, I’d never even heard of them prior to this article — but they are obviously deeply kind, caring people who are now using their horrible heartbreak to help prevent the same thing from happening to others.
People does its part, too, as the article on the Chapmans includes a snippet about Kids and Cars, which is one of my favorite organizations. If you don’t know about Kids and Cars, check out its website. There you’ll find enough alarming data to motivate you to spread the word, too — like the fact that at least 50 children are backed over every week in the U.S., and that in 70 percent of these accidents the driver of the offending vehicle is related to the child. More importantly, you’ll find out what you can do to help prevent these tragedies.
I’m pregnant and thus an emotional wreck right now, but this stuff tears me apart even when I’m not knocked up. Accidents like this can happen to anyone — me, you, your best friend — no one is immune. So slow down, take a few seconds to walk around your vehicle prior to moving it, make sure children are way out of your way, and simply be aware. We’re all running around like bats out of hell these days, but I promise you, these few extra seconds can save a life, so just do it.
User Comments
Courtney, you are so right. The 30 seconds you may save by not walking around your car is pretty paltry compared to the life you may save by doing it. Thanks for reminding us, yet again.
I think, if we take a look at all of these incidents, most, if not all of them, involve an SUV. They have lousy rear visibility, and their makers know this. They also will not address the problem until forced to do so. If you MUST buy a SUV (I will never and neither should you, but if you must) insist on a rear view camera, and it really should be standard since these accidents WILL continue until they are standard. You could also contact the Auto companies and your Congressperson. The auto makers will not fix this on their own. They don’t care about your kids. They care about making money. Sad but true.
Thanks Courtney for continuing to shed light on such a heavy topic. Its tough to hear but we all need to…