It’s been a busy week and a bit for our local RCMP.
We’ve seen a plane crash in a field near Jarvie that knocked out power in a wide swath of the county.
We’ve seen two rollovers near Fawcett — including one where the driver allegedly fell asleep at the wheel moments before missing a curve.
We have also seen a young man crash his truck into a tree in the early morning hours outside a nightclub.
And then last Monday we had the tragedy of young Robert Keats dying after being struck by a minivan on Highway 18 while trying to cross the roadway.
All three were traumatic occurrences for the people involved, but it’s especially tragic when an accident results in the death of someone who was only just starting his life after graduating from high school.
It would be easy to look at the collision and make a statement like “if he had been paying attention and looked both ways, he would still be alive today.”
But to take a look at what happened and have that as the only reaction one can muster is callous, unsympathetic and shallow.
What matters now is a young man is dead and his loved ones are left to grieve.
No parent should have to bury a child, no matter the circumstances.
Yet still, there are lessons that could be drawn from this tragedy.
As RCMP Staff Sgt. Bryan Clayton said, vehicles travelling at highway speeds appear to be moving deceptively slower than they actually are.
They can appear far off, but suddenly be right on top of you, giving you nearly no time to react.
If there are vehicles on the road, and you want to cross the road, it’s safest to wait until both ways are clear.
Of course, these lessons are small, if any, comfort for Keats’ family and friends. They’ve lost a loved one and even if his death does result in others thinking of him before crossing a highway, that knowledge won’t bring him back.
So that’s what we’re left with. A young man struck down just entering his prime in a tragic accident.
Our sincere condolences go out to the Keats family.
