The Families of Two Guys who Died Driving While High Want you to Watch it on Video
When two young men died speeding in a Renault Clio after it hit a church wall and crashed, their families were crushed to find out that they were under the influence when it happened. One can't imagine how they felt when they found out that it was all recorded by the passenger, and that the footage survived the crash. But you might be surprised to know that they decided to publish the footage on YouTube for the world to see. The footage is below, and its as disturbing as it is a reminder to drive sober and safely.
The two men, driver Kyle Careford, 20, and passender Michael Owen, 21, were driving in the Sussex, UK countryside at night. The driver had no license, and they were under the influence of several drugs. In the video, you can see them reach 90 MPH, weaving through traffic and traversing rough terrain. Before the fatal crash, the passenger warns the driver to "slow down." The owner of the car had a five-year-old daughter.
Here's their families statement on the wreck:
“If all this stops one person from making the same mistake, then some good has come from showing this video. I’m hoping it will have an impact on young people and make them see that a bit of fun can have such devastating consequences.
“I would like all the young people out there to take notice and realise that you are not invincible and take seriously how precious your lives are to yourselves and others. I want young drivers to consider how much devastation it causes to the families and loved ones that are left behind.
“Watching the video was very upsetting, but I’m hoping it can be used in a positive way, by showing young people what could happen to them.”
As someone who had two many peers die in car accidents when I was younger, this is a video I just can't watch. But it's a warning I can heed, and you should too. If you're drinking, smoking, or otherwise impaired, get an Uber or call a friend. Don't text and drive, stay alert, and be careful. No one wants to end up a warning.
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