Dear Editor:

Let me start out by saying that the opinions in this letter are in no way a reflection of the thoughts and opinions of anyone other than myself.

That being said, let me state that this letter is in response to Heather Harper's letter that was printed in the September 26, 2007 edition of the Bryan County News.

Let me give you some background on me so that you may know where I am coming from. I have been with various fire departments on and off for the last 20 years. For the last seven I have been involved in various local Emergency Medical Services as an EMT, as well as a Paramedic. The things that I have seen on the roads and highways over the years are things that no person should ever to have to see.

I was present at the accident scene on the morning that those three young ladies were killed. I must say that that day is one I will never forget. I was getting ready to go out to breakfast with my wife when the page went out for the accident. My wife said to me after looking at the clock "I bet it's high school kids." I told her that I hoped she was wrong, however the time of day and it being school time the timing fit.

Upon arriving at the scene I could not believe my eyes. The vehicles were intertwined like none I have ever seen before. My thoughts were that there was no way anyone at all could live thru something like this. I assisted with getting Mr. Le ready for transport to the hospital.

After that I had to do something that I have done too many times before, and unfortunately will have to do many times again in my career, and that is to have to put someone into a body bag that does not belong there.

The State of Georgia has changed a lot of things since I first got into EMS. One of the things that they have changed is that there is no such thing as a Motor Vehicle Accident. It is now a Motor Vehicle Crash, because there is, in the state's opinion, no such thing is an accident. I am also of this opinion.

I am by all means no expert in crashes of vehicles or any other thing for that matter. But I do have plenty of experience in the aftermath, and let me tell you there is nothing pretty about it.

I believe that Mr. Le should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. If anyone other than those that were close to that crash scene could have seen what I saw, you would understand where I am coming from. To listen to the accounts from the Sheriff's Department, this crash was caused by speed and recklessness. To those who live in this county, and have so for awhile, we have a healthy respect for The Warnell Curve, which for those who do not know, this is where the accident happened.

So I take exception to the fact that Ms. Harper does not think that Mr. Le should not be prosecuted. Mr. Le is still here and can be hugged and held by his mother and other relatives. The parents of Heather and Melissa Arthur, and Laura Cobb do not have that ability anymore. If Mr. Le should go to jail, his relatives can come and visit him, the only place that the parents of the deceased children have to visit is a grave. To me it is unnatural for a parent to bury a child, especially in circumstances like this.

In response to Ms. Harper's comment that this case is morally and ethically unjust, I beg to differ. If it were, then the Sheriff's Department would not be pursuing charges. It comes down to the law and what the law states.

I am friends with the Aunt of Heather and Melissa and not a day goes by that she does not think of these girls. When she hugged me at the funeral that was one of the hardest moments I have had to deal with in a long time. I am not ashamed to admit it but when we got done at the funeral I came home and cried, not just for those that we just buried, but for all those that I have seen at crashes and for all those to come.

In closing let me say prosecute Mr. Le to the fullest extent of the law, and may God have mercy on his soul.