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A letter to Highlands Ranch drivers

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Contributed by: Cathryn Ocken on 5/4/2007

To Our Highlands Ranch Drivers:

This Tuesday, May 1st, my daughter and I had just left her speech appointment going Northbound on Quebec from Timberline. We witnessed the most horrific seen. People had already stopped and were administering CPR to a gentleman who had crashed his motorcycle at the intersection of Quebec and Mountain Brush.

My daughter is 4 years old. You can only begin to imagine the questions she had as she witnessed his body, leg and motorcycle laying there in the middle of the street. She asked where are the policeman and fireman to help him? I am a retired critical care nurse. I was mortified. His leg had been severed off and laying on Quebec. I could have touched his leg as we passed by his body.

We prayed that his life would be spared, and for the people giving him CPR, and of course for whatever may have caused this tragic accident and his dear family and friends.

We had cones out that day on Quebec for landscape work in the median. When you see cones, are you slowing down?

Highlands Ranch, I just have to ask you. How fast are you going on Quebec and all our streets?

Quebec was closed that afternoon for a few hours as the police figured out what may have happened.

There was no news about this poor gentleman and his accident. There have been no news articles, either.

Just seems to me, we report prairie dog nuisances and graffiti by teens, thefts, but are we forgetting the big picture about human life?

Quebec has many low visibility curves going either direction. We just lost Timothy Sowders May 24th, 2004, at Collegiate and Quebec to a hit-and-run who ran the light and piled into his car. He was 11 years old.

I beg you all as a driver and Mom: Please take your time and pay attention to what in your path behind the wheel.

The gentleman's motorcycle was crunched past recognition. His body, well, I think you get the picture.

This is human life when we get behind the wheel. Take care of it by driving the speed limit and paying attention.

God is watching.

Cathryn Ocken has lived in Highlands Ranch for 22 years.

Editor's note: Click here to read a news article about the May 1 accident.

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Showing 1-3 of 3 comments

Submitted By: Derek Olson

posted on 5/14/2007 @ 9:44:31 AM

(Not Rated)

John was my father-in-law. We are all having a hard time getting through this.

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Submitted By: Ann Himel

posted on 5/4/2007 @ 9:20:17 PM

Rated Story

When I was Accountability chair at our elementary school, we had our Sheriff's dept. put up a mechanized speed monitor - I'm sure you've seen them. The biggest culprits - and remember, this is in front of an elementary school at a posted 25 limit reduced to 20 in school drop-off/pick-up times - were parents. NOT high school kids, as everyone was willing to blame. It is a conscious effort to drive and be aware that one is driving. Seeing fatalaties on the road is a pitiful fact we often endure.

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Submitted By: Steve Shultz

posted on 5/4/2007 @ 10:41:56 AM

Rated Story

Thank you so much for sharing this, Cathryn. I hope more residents will share their views on this issue.

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Showing 1-3 of 3 comments

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