The tragic death of four teenagers needlessly killed by reckless driving remains heavy on all of our hearts. We won-der once again if this kind of event can be prevented or is it completely out of our hands? I would like to think that it was preventable. The driver, with a litany of traffic violations (including speeding and running a stop sign), has to make us wonder how such an individual was able to continue to hold a driver’s license.

In reviewing the driver’s record, it is mind-boggling that he would still be allowed to get behind the wheel and carelessly end not only his own life but that of three others. But it goes much further than that. The victims’ relatives, friends, classmates and neighbors all have to live with this horrific occurrence for the rest of their lives.

Even more distressing are the accounts of this individual’s driving habits that were well known by many of his friends and probably family members. This was a recipe for a tragedy just waiting to happen.

When individuals emerge whose driving habits potentially jeopardize the lives of those around them, someone has to step forward and make certain that stringent measures are taken to prevent them from ever getting behind the wheel of a car again. In this case, it is already too late.

Tom Hoolihan

Getzville