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Missing CharissaSep 03 '00 Write an essay on this topic.Charissa was a co-worker of mine who died last year right around the time the college students went back to school. The last time I saw Charissa she was working on a planogram at the store we worked for. The last thing I said to her was "staying late again, it's time to go home Charissa, come on let's go". She would have none of that though, she always stayed until the job was done. Charissa was 39 years old when she died. She had been married about six years and was ready to adopt a baby girl. I felt a kinship with her because I too adopted a child. She was very happy and couldn't wait to be a Mom. Charissa was the type of person who lit up the room when she walked in. She was very outgoing and had a bubbly personality. You could always depend on her. It's tragic she lost her life because a college student had been binge drinking and in a moment that mattered the most, decided to get behind the wheel of a car. She had been out late night shopping at the mall when she decided to take a short cut through the park. We do that often in our area to avoid the busy traffic along the mall. She proceeded into the park. The street is on a hill, across from the hill is a scenic, little, one way, covered bridge. There is a four way stop at the bottom of the hill. Charissa had stopped, and now it was her time to turn right, into the park. Well, the drunk driver did not stop and came flying into her driver's side as she was turning. She did not have a chance. She died twenty minutes later at our local hospital. We found out later that the college student involved in the accident had just hit another car before proceeding into the park. He was fleeing police. He was going way too fast. The speed limit in the park was only 30 miles per hour, he was going 72 miles per hour when he hit Charissa. He had a prior drunk driving arrest and was driving on a suspended license, no wonder he wanted to flee the police. We went to the funeral home, my co-workers and I. What do you say to a grieving husband, now that his wife is gone? If there is anything we can do call us, it seemed empty at the time and it still does. I think of Charissa often, especially when this time of year comes around. What would she be doing? How would she and her new baby be spending their time together? What would have happened if she would have approached that intersection just a split second sooner or later? They arrested the college student. He tried to flee the scene of the accident but bystanders tackled him to the ground. He received the maximum penalty for all that he changed permanently that night. Was it enough? I don't think so. So, for all of you college students out there who must drink, think about Charissa and all of the Charissa's out there before you step behind the wheel of a car. There are always other options. Take a ride from a friend who has not been drinking, when possible call family, or you can always call a cab. If you can't do any of these, just please, sleep it off. It is not worth costing another human being their life. Think about that before you go to that next frat party.  |
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