Tragedy for New York Teens
Tara Paterson
July 15, 2007
“Teenagers travel in droves, packs, schools…To their teacher, they are giggly and giddy. To their coaches they are agile and full of energy. To their friends they are trustworthy and loyal. To their parents they are the light and future….” –Tara Paterson
It was the fourth of July as we made our way to upstate New York from our home in rural Virginia. Upon approaching our final destination, we passed a high school with the words- Our thoughts and prayers are with our friends in Fairport; posted on the school event board. I had goose bumps as I read the words and made it my first order of business to find out what had happened. As we pulled into my aunt and uncle’s driveway, the first words out of my mouth were- what happened in Fairport; our home only six short years earlier. My aunt’s eyes welled up with tears as she described the horrible tragedy that occurred only a week earlier- five high school graduates from the town of Fairport, NY were killed in a head on collision with a tractor trailer truck on routes 5 and 20 headed for Keuka Lake. As if that wasn’t enough, four of their friends were in the car behind them and witnessed the whole thing; including the explosion of their friend’s vehicle.
I still remember catching a glimpse of the story on the national news as my husband and I sat in a hotel lobby in Dallas, Texas. I had no idea the story being told, took place in our hometown. As my aunt described what had happened, images flashed before my eyes of the many times I drove the very same route headed to my aunt and uncle’s cottage on the very same Finger Lake- Keuka. In fact we were set to spend a day at the lake this trip and would be driving this same stretch of highway, only now with the evidence that five beautiful women lost their lives and several more witnessed this horrific tragedy and are now left to deal with the pain and trauma.
Many years ago, my husband, our young son and I lived across the street from the Fairport high school. We have very fond memories of our time there and vowed if we ever moved back to New York we would not live anywhere, BUT Fairport. A piece of Norman Rockwell’s art can be seen in the landscape and along the famed Erie Canal. The cobblestone like streets and specialty stores are a beautiful reminder of a place you still want to raise a family. I am still reminded of Fairport every time I look at the artwork, painted by a local artist, hanging on my living room wall.
We drove past the crash site during our stay in New York and found a young girl walking around the memoriam. Flowers, stuffed animals, candles, prayers, and much more lines the busy highway as acknowledgement of the many people who have paid their respects to the lives of these girls and their families. I felt compelled to write how my heart feels for these families as a mom of three children of my own. I bought a copy of People magazine which contains an article about this heartbreaking tragedy to remind myself how precious life really is.
To the citizens of the city of Rochester and the community of Fairport, my hometown, our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with you. Your imprint will be left on my heart for eternity.
2007 by Tara Paterson, All Rights Reserved
It was the fourth of July as we made our way to upstate New York from our home in rural Virginia. Upon approaching our final destination, we passed a high school with the words- Our thoughts and prayers are with our friends in Fairport; posted on the school event board. I had goose bumps as I read the words and made it my first order of business to find out what had happened. As we pulled into my aunt and uncle’s driveway, the first words out of my mouth were- what happened in Fairport; our home only six short years earlier. My aunt’s eyes welled up with tears as she described the horrible tragedy that occurred only a week earlier- five high school graduates from the town of Fairport, NY were killed in a head on collision with a tractor trailer truck on routes 5 and 20 headed for Keuka Lake. As if that wasn’t enough, four of their friends were in the car behind them and witnessed the whole thing; including the explosion of their friend’s vehicle.
I still remember catching a glimpse of the story on the national news as my husband and I sat in a hotel lobby in Dallas, Texas. I had no idea the story being told, took place in our hometown. As my aunt described what had happened, images flashed before my eyes of the many times I drove the very same route headed to my aunt and uncle’s cottage on the very same Finger Lake- Keuka. In fact we were set to spend a day at the lake this trip and would be driving this same stretch of highway, only now with the evidence that five beautiful women lost their lives and several more witnessed this horrific tragedy and are now left to deal with the pain and trauma.
Many years ago, my husband, our young son and I lived across the street from the Fairport high school. We have very fond memories of our time there and vowed if we ever moved back to New York we would not live anywhere, BUT Fairport. A piece of Norman Rockwell’s art can be seen in the landscape and along the famed Erie Canal. The cobblestone like streets and specialty stores are a beautiful reminder of a place you still want to raise a family. I am still reminded of Fairport every time I look at the artwork, painted by a local artist, hanging on my living room wall.
We drove past the crash site during our stay in New York and found a young girl walking around the memoriam. Flowers, stuffed animals, candles, prayers, and much more lines the busy highway as acknowledgement of the many people who have paid their respects to the lives of these girls and their families. I felt compelled to write how my heart feels for these families as a mom of three children of my own. I bought a copy of People magazine which contains an article about this heartbreaking tragedy to remind myself how precious life really is.
To the citizens of the city of Rochester and the community of Fairport, my hometown, our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with you. Your imprint will be left on my heart for eternity.
2007 by Tara Paterson, All Rights Reserved
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