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Please read, because I care about you all

smigon

smigon

Old enough to know better
It took me a few days to decide whether or not to make a public post about this because I am sort of still in shock, but after reading all the articles I decided to say something because I consider you all part of my extended family.

On Sunday evening, April 27th, 2014, my cousin, Daniel Mocker, was killed by a drunk driver while riding his bicycle in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Danny lived in Fort Lauderdale because he loved the beach, was a free-spirit, an amazing human being, and someone I am honored to call family, much less friend. He would do anything for anyone, loved the beach and sun and sand, didn't drive because he was an environmentalist, rode his bike everywhere, and was just an amazing all-around person. He was the youngest 52 year old you would have ever met, he had no kids of his own but he wore his young nieces and nephews out playing with them.

On Sunday night, a 23 year old driving an SUV hit Danny in the bike lane where Danny was riding from behind. Danny was thrown backwards, hit the windshield and fell off the hood of the SUV. He died on impact. The driver kept going, he finally stopped 5 blocks later when a witness called 911. It is still under investigation, but police claim the driver was impaired, blood tests are pending.

My plea is this: please don't drink and drive. I am guilty of it, and I know most of us probably are, consider yourself lucky that you have made it home safely. I have been a vocal advocate of designated driving for about 15 years, I hoped never to lose another friend to drunk driving (4 in the past 2 years) but this time it hit me a little closer to home.

Please call a cab, call a friend, talk to your parents if you are young and make a pact, let them know that if you do get intoxicated and call them for a ride there won't be repercussions. Find a way to be safe and not get behind the wheel.

Don't let another Danny Mocker get away from us, and have another 23 year old's life be over for a stupid decision to drink and drive.

http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/20...8_1_crash-contact-dui-investigation-bicyclist

https://www.facebook.com/groups/272775656227647/

Hugs, Michelle
 
I am very sorry to hear of your loss, especially in such a senseless way.

Thank you for posting the message - it is one each of us should hear regularly. The reminder to reconsider when to drive a car after having alcohol absolutely necessary.
 
Sorry to hear about this. This sort of news always comes as a blow to the sensibilities.

I used to drink when I played in a band many moons ago, but after that part of my life was over with, I never had any desire to drink alcoholic beverages. I liked to loosen up a bit while on stage, and that was about it. But getting downright drunk? Nope. Couldn't, and still can't, see the sense in it. Why would anyone purposely put something in their body that impairs it's and the brain's functioning? I lost my father and one of my brothers to alcoholism. But truth be known, that was their own choice. At least they didn't kill anyone else with their stupid choice of lifestyle.

So heck, now, to make matters worse, you have drunks fiddling with their cell phones while driving.... Lovely....... I'm glad I don't get out on the roads as much as I used to.
 
I am so very sorry for your loss. I hope everybody reads this message and fully comprehends how destructive drinking can be. Sober for 1 month and 2 days.
 
I'm so sorry to hear that. Last year my uncle was hit by a car walking home. Unfortunately the person who hit him was never found and my uncle passed after several days in icu.
 
demonss said:
I am so very sorry for your loss. I hope everybody reads this message and fully comprehends how destructive drinking can be. Sober for 1 month and 2 days.
Click to expand...

Congrats on your sobriety! Keep it going, we want you to beat the odds.

Thanks to everyone's support, I really need it about now.
 
Thank you smigon :) it took the loss of my dog for me to realize how precious life is. I hope your message is heard and you feel all the condolences being sent your way.
 
Condolences.
Working on a gastro ward we have people dying due to liver disease from alcohol almost every week and even worse are the ones we save with permanent brain damage. Along with the results of accidents I see if I do a shift in ER I really do hate what alcohol can do
 
Thanks, everyone, I really appreciate it and hope it saves even one person this weekend from drinking and driving.

Danny's memorial in Fort Lauderdale is in a few hours today, there will be another in St. Louis where we are all from later this month.

Rich, I couldn't agree more, now with texting and driving? The story of the girl who posted to Facebook how happy she was right at that moment in time and crossed over the line and was hit head on and killed just made me sad. I hate talking on the phone while driving, I refuse to text (okay, I admit, I really have NO idea how to USE a smartphone anyway!) and hope that someday, very soon, cellphones will be outlawed in every state while driving.
 
I give my condolences to you and you family. I've never lost anyone so close to me, so I can only imagine how hard this much be.

I hate hearing things like this, innocent people shouldn't have to pay for other peoples mistakes! :(

I'm a firm believer of installing breathalyzers into cars, if people couldn't start up their car unless they were under a certain bac then there would be far less accidents, it would also cause people to think twice about how much they drink if they can't get their car started and they wouldn't poison themselves.
I know lots of people my age who's parents put breathalyzers into their cars, and it really is a life saver.

The hands free technology is getting better and more affordable, so hopefully texting accidents will be eradicated in the near future.
 
I am very sorry for your loss.
In my job, I see unecessary deaths/injuries as a result of imparied drivers all top frequently.

It is defintely an important message, and I hope that it reaches someone who might otherwise make a bad decision.
 
Kat_Dog, I was talking with my husband about it and I have lost at least 20 people VERY close to me in the last 35 years, and more that were acquaintances. I don't know how many funerals I have been to, and most of them weren't elderly.

My parents happened to be at Danny's mom's house in St. Louis (Nancy is my dad's sister, my parents live in NC) that weekend because my mom's brother passed away earlier that month and they were in town for his memorial. He had taken his wife to the hospital (she has Alzheimer's and other dementia) and he started feeling ill at the hospital and they admitted him immediately. Cancer that had spread all over his body. He was in his 80's, but it was only 3 days later that he passed away.

So after a crappy weekend they left after finding out about Danny. At least they were there to comfort Nancy.
 
Here is how everyone remembers Danny. "Infectious smile" was the phrase most used to describe him.
 

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