Dale Earnhardt Started a Ripple

Tragically, in 2001, NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt died in a crash during a race in Daytona Beach, FL. His passing started a ripple that lead to the creation of the Marker Memories...video.

Allow me to explain...

Most of us have, at least once in our lives, tossed a stone into a pond, creating ever-widening ripples in the water. When we did this, we saw the effect the ripples had on our side of the pond. But, we never knew the effect they had on the pond's far side.

Our lives are like this.

Often, it seems what we do and the lives we live have no great influence on much of anything or anyone.

Sad, yes.

But, once in a while, an act we perform, a talk we have with another, even our passing, creates ripples that carry a positive influence far distances, much more so than we could ever have imagined.

Mr. Earnhardt's death lead to a ban on public viewing of autopsies, at least in Florida where Carmine M. Bravo serves as a compassionate, caring and creative judge. He told several driving defendants he wished he could have sentenced them to watch an autopsy. But, as mentioned, that was no longer an option.

I worked with Judge Bravo on a number of fundraising and other projects. The night after he sentenced the defendants -- one, 19, for driving 99 mph on an interstate highway, weaving in and out of traffic, driving on the road's shoulder; the other, 16, for taking her mother's car without permission and driving 84 mph in a 45 mph zone (two more examples of DWS, driving while stupid) -- I saw a Highway Patrol video on local government TV.

The video was Highway of Horror I and showed people who had died in crashes. I suggested to Judge Bravo we compile a scrapbook of pictures of vehicular homicide victims and have sentenced defendants look through this collection at the probation office, then write an essay about their thoughts, feelings and reactions to having done this.

The idea grew and, with the help of Highway Patrol Corporal Alan Conklin (the Marker Memories...video's third interview), brainstormed into what is called simply The Crash Project, a seven-step sentencing option used by several judges. This project involves reading Cpl. Conklin's report of a crash caused by a drunk driver that killed five people (the DUI driver is in prison for 40 years). The defendants answer 15 questions about information in the report, watch a video of the crash scene and a video of a Texas woman disfigured for life in a crash also caused by a drunk driver, then write an essay about their reactions, thoughts, etc.

The essays are extremely moving and emotional. One young man wrote that he believes if he hadn't had to work 15 minutes late the day of the crash that he and his buddies likely would have been involved in it. As it was, they arrived at the scene on their way to the beach just as a detour was being set up by rescue personnel.

That program will begin its eighth year in July, 2008. Approximately 2,000 drivers have completed The Crash Project.

How did this lead to the creation of the Marker Memories...video? I'll explain next time.

As always, please, drive safely.