Each and every time a vehicular tragedy involving youngsters occurs on the roads of Long Island, I’m reminded of all the dangerous situations I put myself in as a new driver in my youth — during what is often referred to as the best days of our lives. The tragic accident involving students from Farmingdale High School on Conklin Street over the weekend was another one of those reflective moments.
Without knowing what exactly caused the accident, as the investigation is ongoing, it is pointless to speculate about a distracted or imparied driver, mechanical failure or any other force that pushed a car packed with teens into oncoming traffic. The best a community can do is rally around family and friends, just as Farmingdale has done in the wake of the accident.
There are all sorts of factors that contribute to a car accident.
My own personal close-calls were mostly a result of hubris and the youth-born delusion of invincibility, factors that endanger teenagers today just as when I was in high school. The loss of five teen lives serves as a reminder of the fragility of every single person, and how lucky every adult should feel about surviving the best days of their lives.
