Lyle's Blog

I can’t imagine what it’s like running over your little child and living with the guilt and experience of it. When our kids were little I owned a three quarter ton Ford extended box pickup. Whenever I would drive it I would walk around it, look under it, and check where my kids were. Two or three times I would do that before I got in the truck and drove off. One of our friends in the neighborhood had run over and killed their little daughter. It happened sometime before we met them. They later divorced. I don’t know if that had anything to do with it but who knows. My cousin was a truck driver many years ago. He would park his truck in his driveway. His little boy curled up behind the dual tires with his trike; he ran over his little boy. His truck went off the road a couple years later for no apparent reason. I don’t think he could live with the memory anymore. One of the women that worked at our company ran over her young teenager. She went by the park to see if her daughter wanted to go to the store with her. She said no but unbeknown to my friend her daughter apparently changed her mind and grabbed the door handle to get in. She started driving away before noticing the girl was pulled under the car. So that is why I was so cautious. I knew what could happen. My heart goes out to Todd Heap and his wife, their parents, and those that loved that little girl. I write this to encourage anyone who reads it to slow down, take your time, and do your best to make sure your kids are safe.