Just this past weekend, two tragic accidents took place both Friday and Saturday.

Oregon City senior, Maddy West, driving a Saturn, was killed in a head-on collision with a Hummer H3 on South Redland Road on Friday night, around 6pm.

The next day, two West Linn students, juniors Cooper Hill and Antonio Caballero were killed in another car accident involving a Jeep rear-ending the Honda the boys were in, traveling in the Columbia River Gorge. Just eight months before, the West Linn community lost another student, Maddi Higgins, and graduated student, Hayden Soyk, in another fatal car accident.

With these tragic accidents taking the lives of students that some of us may have known or be connected to,  it brings awareness of the importance of safe driving and cherishing our lives.

Most people will have this feeling of realization of reality and the fact that these students’ lives were taken too soon, which is true, but there is more than just that when thinking about these heart wrenching stories.

First, it is important to point out the fact of driving. Many of us ride with friends, or can drive ourselves place to place. Of course, most all of us have gotten the talk from parents about no texting and driving, or letting distractions take your eyes off the road. Some will take this advice, while others decide to ignore it. But when tragic events like these that have struck the community surrounding La Salle occur, it can serve as an eye opener.

Driving is more than just a privilege. You, and every other person on the road, have the chance to take another life with reckless driving. By taking your eyes off the road or deciding to text your friend back, you are risking yourself and others around you. Even thinking it would be fun to mess around driving on backroads, or thinking that reckless driving is okay because no one else is on the road, is still not safe for yourself and others in the car with you.

Accidents like these give us another reminder about driving and how it is not something to mess around with. Even though the accident that involved Hill and Caballero was not their fault, the driver of Jeep that did hit them was reportedly not paying attention and plowed into the back of their car. All of these accidents had reckless or distracted driving involved, expect West’s accident, but it still shows how it can put others’ lives in risk.

The loss of these students from the nearby communities of West Linn and Oregon City brings a wake up call for not only driving, but a piece of reflection for all to think about.

Cherishing life is as important as seeing how no day is promised. These awful accidents serve as a reminder of the preciousness of life and how we should live out each day day well, because if it was any of them, they wouldn’t waste a minute. Cherish your time with family, friends, on the field, and in school. Tell people how important they are to you, or how proud you are of their accomplishments. Maddy, Cooper, Toni, Maddi, and Hayden were taken from the lives of their loved ones too soon, and all show the importance of why we should drive safely. No day is promised, and therefore we should not hold back in pursuing the life we want to live, but while still remembering to act and drive safely.

During these moments of heartbreak in our community, we must remember the privilege and responsibility of driving, and remember to treasure our own life and the lives of all those around us.