Something that NO parent should EVER have to bear

By Angie Landon Dunsworth

Miranda Dunsworth

On the night of June 20, 2012, Miranda was spending the afternoon with her boyfriend. Hours went by and it started getting late, and still no sight of Miranda. A rush of emotions went through my body, I started to feel anxious. I began texting her and calling her and no answer.

At first, I tried not to let my gut or mother’s intuition take over, but I could feel something was wrong. I kept trying to get in contact with her. I wanted to wake up my husband and tell him she wasn’t home, but I couldn’t do it. I kept telling myself she was going to walk through that door any second and I shouldn’t overreact. I must have called and texted her about 100 times before the doorbell rang. Who would have thought that the doorbell would have changed our lives forever.

Officer Sam Darroch and Dr. Nathan Strandmark were standing at my door. When I saw both of them, I knew in my gut what their next words would be, but I was in shock. They both looked at me with despair. They said, “Angie, Miranda…” while shaking their heads. They paused for a moment. I replied in denial, “Miranda what?” They proceeded to finish their sentence. “Miranda didn’t make it; she was in a bad accident.”  

Later, we learned how that night came to be. Around 12:35 a.m., June 21, 2012, Miranda was running late from seeing her boyfriend. It was past her curfew. She headed eastbound on Mary Street for home. This road has a very steep ditch on the south side. I can’t say my daughter is perfect, but she was always a BIG stickler on wearing seat belts. As hard as it is for me to say, she took her seat belt off to reach for something she had dropped.

As she tried to reach for whatever it was, she noticed she was headed toward that steep ditch and overcorrected. Her car then flipped, which flung her straight up and caused her to break her neck. She died instantly. She was then thrown from the car. The car landed on her, rolling three more times.

For those who read this, it doesn’t matter if you are only going to be unbuckled for 2 seconds. That’s all it took for Miranda. If you drop something and cannot reach it, LEAVE IT!!!! Nothing is more important than your life. Don’t kill yourself or someone else over things that don’t matter. NEVER take off your seat belt, and NEVER reach for things while you’re driving. Pull over or get it when you stop somewhere.

To the parents who read this, teach your kids how to get out of situations like that so they don’t overcorrect and roll the vehicle. Most importantly, teach them to never reach for things while they drive and always wear their seat belts. One thing I suggest is teaching them to drive on a dirt road. When you start to slide on a dirt road you, a) let off the gas; b) ride with grooves till the vehicle slows down and you regain control; and c) DO NOT SLAM THE BRAKES!!! Something I should’ve practiced more with my daughter.

During Miranda’s funeral, pastor Robert Deleon, her friends, and everyone who attended created the ‘Miranda Rule!’ - to always wear your seat belt while in a vehicle. To this day I hear kids yelling, “remember the Miranda Rule!” It brings a warm smile back to my face that people still remember my daughter.

Friends have also honored Miranda by creating a documentary in tribute to her and by getting a street named after her. These things mean so much to all her family members.

Two years later after Miranda’s passing, her younger sister, Ari, was about to turn 16 years old, and I knew the time would be coming for her to start driving. But I was NOT ready for her to start. It was difficult for me to allow my other children to get behind the wheel. She was able to get her license and is now a 24-year-old army wife. To this day has not crashed, and I pray every day she never crashes.

I remember my daughter, Miranda, as a beautiful 16-year-old girl who loved basketball, kids, friends, boys, school, and cars. She was happy, full of life, and had a beautiful future. She was very involved in sports and had many, many friends who loved her and supported her.

I recall back to when I took Miranda to get her farm permit when she was 14 years old. When she was given her permit, they asked her if she would like to be an organ donor. She looked at me and asked what that was. I told her, it’s when something happens to you and if you would like to give your organs to help others in need. I told her it was her choice and her choice alone if she wanted to be a donor. She said to me, “If I could save at least one life, that would make my life worth living.” She loved that analogy, so she became a donor and thanks to Miranda, she was able to help/save over 100 people! People from Oklahoma all the way to Maine received life-saving organs from Miranda. A person from Oklahoma received her eyes. It is heartwarming to know a little piece of her lives on.

It’s been a little over 10 years since the never-ending nightmare began. To this day, when I hear certain songs, if my children don’t answer my calls, if I hear sirens or come up onto a wreck, it brings me right back to that night. It brings me back to Miranda’s funeral and images in my head of my baby lying on a cold slab, something that NO parent should EVER have to bear. Two seconds is all it took to take her life.

Angie Landon Dunsworth is the mother of Miranda and Ari, and is from Garden City

 

Every parent's nightmare is to outlive their child

 By Todd Linder

March 13, 2023, I lost my 16-year-old Cassandra Kay Linder in an automotive crash in Garden City. My daughter’s car was struck head-on by a commercial truck that swerved into her lane. At 4:45 p.m., I received a call from a deputy sheriff who told me that Cassy had been in a bad car crash and that she was alive but hurt very badly and that I needed to rush to the hospital.

I rushed out of UniFirst and into my car and drove and prayed all the way to the hospital. When I arrived, some nurses had come out and said she was alive, and the doctors were doing everything they could to help her. In the minutes that followed, other family members and friends started showing up. After 15 minutes, two doctors and two nurses emerged from the ER, and I knew what they were about to tell me. The feeling of hurt and sadness can’t be described in words.

After a sleepless night, the Kansas Highway Patrol called me and asked if they could come to our home and provide us with some of the details of the crash. When he arrived, he told us the CMV had been equipped with an onboard camera and with tears in his eyes he said he watched the entire crash happen on video. 

The officer told us Cassy did nothing wrong and that the CMV driver was at fault for the collision. The investigation is still not finalized, but the officer told us that the other driver was distracted at the time of the crash and likely fatigued. I knew in my heart that she had done things correctly from the beginning, the way she was taught.

The immense pain and loss our family feels are indescribable, and I share this grief-filled journey not for sympathy, but to shed light on a crucial issue: the importance of road safety, especially concerning commercial truck drivers. In a world of constant connectivity, the line between professional and personal life is often blurred, especially for commercial drivers. The pressure to meet tight deadlines, long hours on the road and lure of smartphone notifications can easily lead to distractions. But what many might brush off as a mere second of inattention can lead to irreversible tragedies.

A little bit about Cassandra, she was born September 29, 2006, in Lakin, Kansas. Cassandra loved to read, she had excellent grades/attendance in school and was active in Stucco, Halo, dance and loved being a manager for track and basketball. She was popular in school because she was real. She was also a gymnastics coach for the Gymnastics Center where she worked part time after school and during the summer last year. She loved her job. She also loved listening to music and especially Taylor Swift. For Christmas this year, I purchased her a ticket to go to the Taylor Swift Concert in July. She unfortunately did not get to go physically but was there spiritually with her two older sisters. I often describe Cassy as headstrong, caring and a responsible young adult who had the willingness and drive to be successful later in life. 

I was always taught to make the best of any situation, in this case a horrible situation. I have started reading about distracted driving and have become an advocate on the dangers, this has helped me through my grieving process, and helped me keep Cassy’s name alive. Her friends from high school have made signs and posts on social media, and we have visited the Sheriff’s office, EMS and Highway Patrol.

Cassandra was always fond of the sunflower; her vault was covered with sunflowers painted all over it. So, we have made the sunflower emoji the reminder to not drive distracted. When going out to eat, we leave memorial cards at the restaurants with reminders to not drive distracted. We have had a flag made up that we use at local car shows that also reminds others that distracted driving kills.  Her friends and I have also done a news spot about our campaign. We plan to give out cards and decals that have a sunflower as a reminder to not drive distracted. 

The Kansas Department of Transportation also declared the highway where Cassandra lost her life as a Safety Corridor and warns of increased enforcement. The sad thing is when they announced the program many people just didn’t get it, it was ridiculed as a wasteful project of tax dollars. Many said it was just a program to give out more tickets, and others said it’s a violation of their rights. It’s sad to read these comments and in a way, angers me. In my opinion if the signs save just one life, then it all is worth it. I am sure that if the roles were reversed and it was the ridiculer’s child, they would think differently about the Safety Corridors. 

Every parent’s nightmare is to outlive their child. The pain is unimaginable, yet it is a reality for too many families. I urge all drivers, especially those operating large vehicles, to understand the weight of responsibility on their shoulders. Each time you’re behind the wheel, it’s not just about getting from point A to point B, it’s about safeguarding your life and the lives of others on the road.

Please, let’s unite in our commitment to road safety. Please, please, Don’t Drive Distracted.

Thanks for reading Cassy’s story.

Todd Linder

“Father of an Angel”

When driving, take mental distractions seriously

By Mallory Goeke

I’ve worked at KDOT for more than seven years. I help create social media content and graphics to encourage travelers to drive safely. I also try to remind my own family members to put the phone down, because distractions while driving are dangerous.

When thinking about distracted driving, the first things I think of are texting or using social media, chatting with passengers, eating, putting on make-up, etc.

None of those things contributed to my crash last October.

I had a million things to do. I had just finished a round of physical therapy, and my mom was coming to visit later that evening. It was my little sister’s birthday weekend, and there was a delivery truck down the street with flashing lights. I reminded myself that I needed to give the truck room when I passed.

While I made that mental note, I didn’t even process what happened next - until it was too late.

I had driven on that same street nearly every day for more than six years. I must have stopped at the same stop sign thousands of times.

But on that day, I was so lost in thought that what I needed to do at the stop sign didn’t even register in my head.

I can still see the flash of maroon as another car slammed into my vehicle on the driver’s side. I can still feel the way my van spun out of control. The sounds of metal crunching, the blur of color and the smell of smoke still haunt me.

I looked up and realized I was hit so hard that I had ended up in someone else’s yard. My van was destroyed. The front end and driver’s side were smashed in, broken glass was everywhere.

It was my first car crash where I was driving, and it was completely my fault.

Thankfully, the other driver and I didn’t suffer any long-lasting physical injuries. But I still recoil when I ride past that stop sign.

I was reminded that driving distracted can involve a lot of things. When you are behind the wheel of a vehicle, you have many jobs – to pay attention, process what is going on around you, follow all traffic signs and react when needed.

With all the distractions we face, it can be easy to check out. But if you find there is too much going on in your head, take a moment and find a safe place to park. Collect your thoughts and refocus before continuing to drive.

Ditch the distractions and drive alert.

Mallory Goeke is a Communications Specialist in KDOT’s Division of Communications.

  

Never let your guard down in a work zone

Chris Fasching

 My name is Chris Fasching, and I am the Highway Maintenance Superintendent for Area Three in Bonner Springs (Kansas City). I joined KDOT in 1990 as an Equipment Operator I, and I have been working in Area Three my entire career. 

Safety in work zones has always been emphasized at KDOT since my very first day. I have worked in all types of work zones, from rural two-lane to multilane interstates, and I have seen a lot of close calls. They always get your blood pumping and make everyone on the job angry. There have been many times that I thought a co-worker might get hurt or worse because of an inattentive driver. But the first time it happened to me is still the most memorable. It was just a few weeks after I started the job.

I was working on a rural section of a two-lane highway that had some hills, curves and deep ditches. We happened to be working on a straight section of the road, so I figured my biggest problem would be staying alert since traffic was light. Sometimes there were several minutes between cars.

 Around 9:30 a.m. that morning, a single car was coming in my direction. I turned to signal the other flagman that I had a car approaching. But he was already signaling me that he was going to send a car my way. The car coming toward me was far enough away that it had plenty of time to stop, so I raised my paddle higher and waived it back and forth.

By then, I could see that the car was a big, old 1970s Oldsmobile, and it seemed to be slowing down. I quickly checked on the car coming from behind me, and it looked like it was going to pass by me about the same time as the other car coming toward me.

But when I turned back to look at the Oldsmobile, I realized that it wasn't slowing down like I thought. I waived the paddle faster and tried to get his attention, but he just kept coming. The bank on my side of the road was steep, but I couldn't get to the other side of the road because of the car coming in the other lane behind me. That only left one way to go, and I was out of time. 

I let go of the paddle and ran for the steep bank. It was only about six feet from the edge line to the back slope, and I had to scramble. I heard the Oldsmobile try to stop before it ran over the flagging paddle behind me. By the time the car stopped, about 75 feet past where I had been standing, I was already running towards it. I was mad! 

As I got closer to the car, I could see that the driver was an older man, and the older woman in the passenger seat was hitting him with a very large purse. After that, most of the anger went out of me. I motioned him to back up so I could get the flagging paddle that was stuck under the car, then I sent him on his way.

The lesson I learned is that it doesn't matter where it is or how busy the work zone is, there is always the potential for something to go wrong. You can never let your guard down or get complacent in a work zone.

Fortunately, KDOT has made a lot of positive changes in work zones and will continue to look for ways to improve work zone safety. We have larger and more reflective signs, high visibility vests and other gear, portable rumble strips, better lights on the trucks/equipment and reliable, handheld radios to communicate with.

But as long as there are vehicles coming through the work zones, there will always be the possibility of something going wrong. Motorists, please slow down and pay extra attention in work zones. I want to go home every night to my family.

Chris Fasching has worked at KDOT for more than 30 years

Stay alert for wildlife along roadways

 

By Jim Stauffer

When someone shares a message about safe driving, we are used to seeing them share about wearing seat belts and avoiding distractions. In my time working for the Kansas Turnpike Authority, our organization has shared those same messages, but something I have experienced is the number of wildlife incidents we have on the road.

My job requires me to travel the Turnpike daily, and I have come across a number of motorists who have been in accidents with wildlife. In fact, KTA’s recent safety assessment showed 28% of single vehicle crashes are with an animal.

Deer will always pose a threat on the roads, and drivers should be looking for them as well. One of the strangest incidents I saw involving a deer was an accident where the antler came through the car windshield and got lodged in the steering wheel, disabling the vehicle. While I have encountered other drivers who have had an incident with a deer on the road, there are many instances with other wildlife to be aware of when on the roads.

One memorable incident involved a mother and daughter who were traveling to Topeka when a turkey vulture left its perch on the median wall right in front of their vehicle. Both mother and daughter were okay after the accident, but it did disable their vehicle. In another incident, a driver on the Turnpike had a goose fly into their windshield. It actually crashed into the car and out the back window.

It also pays to be aware of wildlife after an accident. In one incident where a driver struck a turkey on the road, the animal was just knocked out and became aggressive when it came to. This led to the responding patrol officer needing to put a car between the turkey and the people involved.

In all the situations I described there was vehicle damage, but fortunately, the drivers and passengers came out of these incidents unscathed. Wildlife can be unpredictable, and any of these situations could have been worse in different circumstances. I want to encourage drivers to stay aware of their surroundings, avoid unnecessary distractions and be prepared for the unexpected.

 Jim Stauffer is a Teller at the Kansas Turnpike Authority

 

Nothing on your cell phone is worth someone’s life

Makenzee Cupp

By Denee and Jess Cupp

It was March 1, 2021, and our daughter was on her way home from college, weeks away from graduating culinary school at the top of her class and ready to begin her lifetime dream. 

Our lives were immediately torn apart when a negligent driver on his phone ended her life and changed our lives forever. He never saw the flashing red lights or the stop sign when he barreled through the intersection of KS Highway 4 and U.S. Highway 283 in La Crosse, Kansas, and killed our daughter, Makenzee Kathleen Cupp, who was 19 years old.

She was known by most as Kenz or Kenzee and was a blessing to those who knew her. Kenzee’s heart was as big as Texas; that’s where she was born. She loved to cook with her daddy from the time she could walk. We opened our family restaurant in 2008 in Ness City, Kansas, and Kenz always worked in the kitchen with her dad. Her younger brother, Jay, and I ran the front. We moved to Bazine, Kansas, in 2006 to raise our kids as farm kids and teach them life skills. We loved how almost everyone waved or nodded when you passed them driving down the road. Now, we mostly only see the tops of people’s heads as we pass them, and we have to drive very defensively and hope we don’t get hit by someone looking down at their phone. 

Kenzee was the former president of Ness City High School’s Future Farmers of American (FFA) chapter and the Southwest Kansas FFA District secretary. She loved growing and raising her own food, literally farm to table. She enjoyed cooking and baking many different things, but her favorite was making sauce with her dad. She wanted the whole world to enjoy generations of goodness in this sweet and a little spicy, universal sauce. 

She sold her baked goods locally from the time she was eight and would sell out every time. She would make several batches of her famous cookies and pies to earn money to go on every one of her FFA trips, and there were A LOT of them.  Kenz was always there to volunteer to cook at the FFA community breakfast and loved feeding people.

Through God’s grace, we attempt daily to repurpose our pain into passion by carrying on Kenzee’s dream. Kenzee showed her love and compassion for people through her food. To bring her dream to life and honor Kenzee, we established MKC’s Kitchen LLC, a licensed commercial kitchen built on our family farm to create and build our daughter Makenzee’s legacy.

We create and manufacture her products for profit, but a portion of the proceeds go back to our non-profit organization, kenzeecares.org, to be able to continue to feed people through our Bless A Meal program. This program blesses others with a home-cooked meal, from our kitchen to yours. For more information about Kenzee’s story and her products, go to mkckitchen.com and kenzeecares.org to find out how she wanted to make a difference, and you can too. 

We also want to educate and bring awareness of the distraction of cell phones while driving. So many lives have been taken from families that are changed forever because someone was checking their phone.  We want to prevent this heartbreak and devastation from happening to other families. 

Nothing on your cell phone is worth someone’s life.

 Denee and Jess Cupp are Kenzee’s parents.