A news article this past week reported the conclusion of a court trial in which sixteen seconds dramatically had changed the lives of a number of people.
A man driving a truck had bent down to pick up his sports drink on the floor. When he looked up, it was too late. Traffic ahead had slowed and stopped due to road construction. He crashed into the cars stopped ahead of him. Two women died, one of whom was pregnant. He was charged and found guilty of criminal vehicular homicide. Now he waits to be sentenced to prison.
So many lives affected - or lost. Two women lost the promise of years of to live. A baby will not have a chance at life. Families of these women will grieve long into the future. And the man driving the truck will spend time in prison for committing a felony. All because of sixteen seconds of inattention.
An act that ALL of us have committed at some time or other. Looking away from the road momentarily - perhaps to pick up something or put a CD in the little slot or to answer (or silence) a ringing cell phone.
It doesn't take alcohol or drugs to be the cause of so much loss. Only sixteen seconds of our inattention.
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