Dear driver: I was having a lovely afternoon today. Took my kids age six and eight to see Cats and Dogs in 3D with their four-year-old cousin and their aunt. We all had a great time. I remember looking over at my kids with their goofy 3D glasses and thinking how sweet my life is.
After the movie the kids and I said goodbye to our family and went on our way. We were headed to get gas on First Avenue so we could continue on and pick my husband up from work and join friends at the lake for a relaxing evening dinner and a swim.
I pulled up at the intersection of Victoria and Second Avenue in my white SUV. I stopped and waited at the red light. As I waited at the light you pulled up beside me driving your black Volkswagon hatchback.
The next few moments play over and over in my head. Like slow motion. The light turns green ... we both start to drive across the intersection (you are slightly ahead of me) when suddenly I see that you are turning right, onto Second Avenue, a "one way street."
I see a woman in the far lane smiling and shaking her head at you as if to tell you that you are going the wrong way. Then all of a sudden I hear tires screeching. You have pulled a 180 to correct your mistake and are now running a red light on Second Avenue headed straight for the passenger side of my truck at high speed.
Luckily my reaction was to quickly move out of the way. Thank God no one was coming in the other direction because I had to swerve into the lane of oncoming traffic. I heard both of our tires screeching. I stopped and thought. Did it hit us? I had to pull over and just allow my heart to stop racing. I looked around to see where you went and that you were also OK.
You didn't even stop. Just kept driving. Guess you were in a hurry. Thought you might be interested to know, we are all OK.
You should know that things could have ended very differently. Driving a car is a big responsibility. It is not a game.
There are living people in the vehicles around you. If you don't care about your own life then at least think about the six and eight-year-old, who's lives could have been very different had I not seen you coming.
Please pay attention when driving. One careless mistake could change many lives for all eternity.
Kari-Lynn Heighington
Prince George
