As I think about the fact that now three years have gone by since a truck driver hit our car and sent us into the back of another truck where the underride guard failed, I know that those few seconds have changed my life forever. What happened in an instant, ended what could have been a long, full life for Mary and AnnaLeah. And the rest of my life stretches out before me — without them.
UPDATE August 19, 2018: For current WAYS TO HELP: https://annaleahmary.com/how-you-can-help/
Write to Obama and let him know that you think that crash deaths need to addressed as a National Public Health Problem. Go here to contact him: white house.gov/contact form
Ask President Obama to read our Vision Zero Petition Book, which was delivered to him at the White House in March.
(Note: When the Contact Form asks you for a Subject, click on Transportation.)
Every day’s a holiday with Mary. . . remembering Simply Mary Moments
A Short Film produced & directed by Isaac Karth & Samuel Karth, and starring Mary Lydia Karth: Gremlins in the Basement
And, I love this! Spontaneous moments with Mary (about age 6)–trailer from the making of the above film with her older brothers, Gremlins in the Basement:
Living and loving and grieving and giving. Carrying on day by day.
A very special gift given to me today, Mother’s Day May 8, 2016, from my three treasured grandchildren
Today, I pulled out some clothes for church and realized after I did that the skirt was the one which I bought after the crash. All of my clothes, which I had packed for the trip on May 4, 2013, were destroyed in the crash. So, while driving from the hospital in Athens, Georgia, to Arlington, Texas, to be with all of our children (minus 2), Jerry and I stopped at a Cracker Barrel, and I picked out a lovely skirt. The next day was Mother’s Day–one week after our crash.
Today marks the day Mary died in 2013. I will get no more Mother’s Day greetings from her. Or from AnnaLeah.
Here’s a card from Mary many years ago when I came home from a trip somewhere.
I’m having a special day today–thanks to my children and my husband. And I am grateful for it. But while I’m waiting to enjoy the meal they are preparing, I have to admit . . . what is it that I am trying to say?
AnnaLeah and Mary, I will never stop missing you. You are my daughters–from life’s first cry to final breath and all through eternity.
It is Ascension Sunday–the day we remember how Jesus left us until that day when He will return again. How ironic: Today is May 8, the day we lost Mary, Mother’s Day, and Ascension Sunday.
None of these words take away the pain of losing you:
Mary had a neighborhood friend when we lived in Midland, Texas. Briley was younger than Mary, but they had great fun together. When Briley moved closer to Dallas, they kept in touch and Mary loved it when Briley would stop in to see her during visits back in Midland.
Last month, Briley’s dad contacted me and let me know that Briley had decided that she wanted to write a letter to us. I was so excited and treasured the letter when it came. I decided to wait until May 8 — the day that Mary left us — to share this letter.
Mary was full of joy herself and she brought others right along with her as she enjoyed life. How she loved to laugh! And she loved the song, “Every day’s a holiday with Mary!”
Thank you, Briley, for being a friend to Mary. She valued your friendship. And thank you for helping me at this time when I miss her so very much — when I can hardly believe that she and her sister are no longer with us. How can it be?
If your eyes are glazing over from my endless posts on truck safety, this one is a little different. Dawn King, president of the Truck Safety Coalition, lost her dad in a truck crash. She talks here about what she saw and experienced at the amazing Underride Roundtable on May 5, 2016. Thanks for sharing, Dawn.
The day after the Underride Roundtable, I feel drained, exhausted. There may have been a few people whom I did not greet, but it is quite possible that I talked with almost all of the 84 participants. That, in itself was very rewarding–touching base in person with so many people with whom I have spoken via phone or corresponded online over the last few years about this underride issue.
The successful crash testing of the Stoughton trailer’s new underride guard design in the 30% offset crash area (and Wabash’s last week) — like the other crash tests which I have observed — was a bittersweet moment. Grateful for the victory! Mourning that it was too late for Mary and AnnaLeah.
Not to mention the emotional challenge of sharing our story in that setting.
And then there were the stimulating discussions and the fact that I raised my hand countless times to ask a question. Push, push, push. . . challenge, question. Surely there are some who think that I am a thorn in their side.
But when it comes right down to it, most of those tasked with the responsibility of doing something about the underride problem (thankfully) do not have that inner voice reminding them that every ounce of patience with the status quo, every moment of pausing to be thankful for that bit of progress which has been made, is torture because it feels like a compromise is being made to stop forward momentum–thus giving up on the Best Possible Protection and sacrificing the life of yet one more underride victim as the Crash Death Clock continues to tick. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
With yesterday’s successful crash test, 4 out of the 8 major trailer manufacturers have passed all of the tests posed by IIHS at 100%, 50%, and 30% overlap. That means, when a passenger vehicle collides with the rear of 50% of new tractor-trailers at a speed of up to 35 mph, passengers have a better chance of survival. That is good news.
What is next? Where do we go from here?
At least 50% of the new tractor-trailers will not yet have that level of protection.
Current underride standards require protection up to 35 mph. What about crashes which involve higher speeds?
There are thousands of existing trailers which are not required to be retrofitted with safer rear underride guards.
Trailers on North American roads are still not required to have side underride protection–despite it being anticipated in a 1969 DOT document.
And Single Unit Trucks, for the most part, are not required to have rear underride protection–except for the 1953 variety.
No trucks are required to have front underrun/override protection.
Conspicuity–the ability to clearly notice the trucks from a distance in time to react safely as a passenger vehicle driver–is still an issue for both day and night driving.
Adequate parking options for truck drivers, who need to stop and rest or whose truck may be broken down, are in shortage. And drivers need to be appropriately trained and equipped to mark their truck so that motorists can safely navigate around them.
Australia/New Zealand has recently issued a proposed underride rule which is stronger than the current U.S. and the Canadian rules. What would stop us from adopting the strongest possible underride protection? Let’s not reinvent the wheel –not to mention neglect to save lives when it is possible to do so.
Looks like we need to get back to the drawing board come Monday morning. We’ve still got our work cut out for us. But, now that such a diverse and large group has voluntarily gathered together for an informative and challenging time at the Underride Roundtable, it is my hope that communication and collaboration will continue and good things will come out of our day at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in Ruckersville, Virginia, on May 5, 2016.
Thank you to each one who went out of their way to participate in this memorable event. In memory of those who died too early, AnnaLeah & Mary and thousands of others. . .
You will find multiple links below reporting on the Underride Roundtable, which took place on May 5, 2016 at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Vehicle Research Center in Ruckersville Center, co-hosted by them with the Truck Safety Coalition, and our family (AnnaLeah & Mary for Truck Safety).
Please note: If you are visiting this site for the first time, please be aware that the reason this Underride Roundtable was organized was because the CURRENT DOT/NHTSA underride standards are TOO WEAK. In way too many cases, even new trucks with underride guards meeting current rules (not just corroded ones) fail and allow underride by a passenger vehicle colliding with them. People die from these kinds of crashes and it has been proven that stronger guards (if required and manufactured) could stop this deadly underride!
I know about this because my two youngest daughters, AnnaLeah (17) and Mary (13), died because of this kind of crash on May 4, 2013. I was driving. A truck hit us–spinning us around so that we went backwards into the tractor-trailer ahead of us. AnnaLeah and Mary were in the back seat which went under the truck. They died. I did not.
The Virginian Pilot interviewsMatt Brumbelow Research Engineer from IIHS and Jennifer Tierney, Truck Safety Coalition Volunteer: Safety Group Tests Rear Crash Bar on Trucks
Post by the president of the Truck Safety Coalition, Dawn King: Crash Dummy Survives!
Here is a brief look at the event from the law firm of Andy Young, who was the moderator of the panel discussion in the afternoon:
Like this facebook page during May and Nurenberg, Paris, Heller, & McCarthy will donate $2 to AnnaLeah & Mary for Truck Safety toward research & advocacy efforts.
Around 90 people attended the Underride Roundtable today. The discussions were lively and interactions were fruitful. More reports will be upcoming in the days ahead.
This couid be the first ever Underride Roundtable of its kind. In any event, it’s the first one I’ve ever attended and I’m looking forward to witnessing a life-saving meeting of the minds. Let’s hope. . .
