Morons on the Loose

Earlier tonight, Dave and Jessica and their three kids, who are in the middle of a visit to Jessica's parents (who are serving a mission at the Mormon Battalion Visitors Center) in San Diego, were stopped at a traffic light when an 18-year-old drunk driver, traveling (according to Dave's estimate) somewhere between 40 and 50 MPH, plowed into the back of their van, sending them 50 yards forward and totaling the vehicle.

When police arrived on the scene, they administered a breathalyzer test, which registered a blood alcohol level of .22, to the drunk driver. That's twice the legal limit - even in California.

Dave further tells me that it was the girl's second DUI offense - let alone the fact that she hasn't legally reached the drinking age - and she was driving a stolen car, to boot.

Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt. Two-year-old Kira was taken to a local hospital to be checked out, and she's fine, but everyone suffered bumps and bruises. I can only imagine that the worst part of this ordeal is the psychological effect it has taken on the three kids.

After I spoke with Dave on the phone and was assured that everyone was okay, he sent me these pictures of the totaled vehicle:

We are extremely grateful and are counting our blessings this evening that nothing worse occurred, and we hope that Dave and Jessica and their clan will soon return home safely.

I also sincerely hope that the drunk driver is not allowed behind a steering wheel, if ever again, for a very long time. Holding a driver's license, unfortunately, is too often treated as a right rather than a privilege in our country, and it is one that is far too often abused.