Another tragic story that could have been avoided

I am from Fort Washington, Md.  My parents still live there.   You know it’s Spring in Fort Washington, Md when you hear the roaring sounds of motorcycles and cars speeding down Indian Head Highway Route 210, or as my parents call it, Indian Head ‘Speedway’ 

Last month, a 26 y/o man by the name of Brian Harris, was driving an off-road bike on the street.  He was trying to make a turn and hit a car.  He was thrown from the bike and died from his injuries. (Read Story Here)  Police discovered that not only was Mr. Harris driving illegally, but he was drunk. 

This is yet another sad story that could have been avoided.  We hear these types of storied all the time in this area.  This county is still recovering from the drag racing incident that took place a few years back on Indian Head Highway.

In the Gazette this week, The Poindexters (friends of Mr. Harris’s family) wrote a letter to the editor titled ‘Real story was about man’s life not his death’  In this letter they tell a story about Brian being a good man who was raised by Christian parents. 

This all may be true, but how do they blame the Gazette for simply reporting the story?  Brian was illegally driving an off-road vehicle on a public street.  He was also drunk.  Brian could have hit a pedestrian or killed someone else in this accident.  I wonder if the Poindexter’s letter to the editor would have been the same?

Family and friends of Brian should mourn his death, but should also use this experience to talk to other young people about the dangers of driving drunk and the importance of following and obeying the law.