He didn't stand a chance

Coleen and her brother, Jim, are pictured

at David's grave.



By Coleen Weber

It was in the early morning hours on Oct. 15, 2000, and the telephone rang at our house in Topeka. My parents were visiting, and we had celebrated my youngest daughter’s 10^th birthday the day before. I answered the phone and heard the voice of my brother Jim. 

I don’t remember a lot after that. Apparently, I screamed because the next thing I knew my parents and my daughters were standing in our bedroom. My husband had to tell my parents that their youngest son, David, had been killed in a car wreck.  He was 36.

The next few hours were absolute chaos. As the oldest of my parents’ children, I was the “fixer” and this was something I couldn’t fix. I grew up in Blue Rapids and all I could think about was how to get everyone back home because my other brother needed us. 

So, what happened?  My brother worked for the railroad and was on the road during the week. He was divorced and week-ends at home were spent thoroughly enjoying himself with his friends, and alcohol was always involved. And that is how my youngest brother became a drunk driving statistic.

He and two friends were out driving around in the country; it’s what many people do in small towns when there’s nothing else to do. He apparently was driving too fast, hit a “washboard” on the dirt road and rolled his truck. His blood alcohol level was .20. He and one of his friends were trapped in the vehicle; the other was able to get out and run for help. Thankfully the passengers both survived, but my brother died at the scene. He was drunk, he didn’t have on a seat belt and the driver’s side window was down … he didn’t stand a chance.

There is nothing that can prepare you for a phone call like the one I received that morning. It was terrifying. There is also nothing as horrible as watching your parents navigate through their grief of losing their youngest child. My brother was loud and obnoxious and loving and loyal and goofy and athletic and protective …. we miss him horribly. 

If nothing else, I hope my story has made you think twice about getting behind the wheel of your vehicle and driving after you’ve had a drink (or two), or getting in a vehicle with someone who has been drinking. Don’t become another statistic on a piece of paper …. you are much more important than that.

Coleen Weber is a Program Consultant with the Kansas Department of Transportation in Topeka.