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Testimony of Ray SanderbeckFather of girl who died in crash gives tearful
testimony
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| (Left-to-Right) Ric Oxender, Ohio Conference of AAA Clubs, Ray and Debbie Sanderbeck, (parents of 15-year-old fatal crash victim, Michelle Sanderbeck), and Brian Newbacher, AAA East Central, have participated in hearings to seek passage of House Bill 343. |
Chairman Reinhard, members of the Committee, my name is Ray Sanderbeck, and today I’m speaking on behalf of our 15-year old daughter, Michelle Sanderbeck, and/or any other person whose life has been cut short due to an auto accident involving teen drivers. On March 4, 2006 our little Michelle lost her life in a senseless auto accident. This tragedy wasn’t her fault; she thought she was only taking a short ride to get some ice cream. But little did she know, that she would never return home safely. She was a passenger of five, in a car driven by another child. And let me emphasize the word “child.” A child that was only 16 years of age. A child that had his license for just one month.
You see, this child took the life of my daughter. A life that was filled with promise. A life that would have made a difference in our society. A life that touched the hearts and souls of many others. She was our rock and our foundation. This is a crime that could be prevented, if we all join together and address the issues at hand today.
As you know, auto accidents among teens are common. They are the leading cause of death among teens. Many teens are ill-equipped to handle the responsibility. Many teens are immature and irresponsible, and many have no business being behind the wheel of a car.
And it’s not just the driver of the vehicle. Saturday, I was out running some errands, when I noticed a car filled with four children. The child in the back seat was bouncing a ball off the drivers head. Talk about distractions. And to make matters worse, the car side mirror was busted off.
Respectively, The Ohio Teen Driver Coalition has pointed out on other occasions:
We all have children of our own, or nieces, nephews or grandchildren or just friends that have children. This kind of tragedy just breaks your heart. No one should ever have to feel this pain or go through a tragedy like this in their lifetime. It is a nightmare that our family longs to wake from.” It’s difficult to express in words all of the emotions and hurt that we are experiencing today, but at the same time we know in our hearts that we need to channel our emotions into something positive, so that we may somehow limit/prevent this from happening to others. These children are our future let’s protect them! The people in this room have the ability to do that today. So please, Mr. Chairman, committee members, vote “YES” to pass HB 343 bill as its written today.
In closing, before you make your decision, please take the time to
read this hand-out.
My daughter wrote this a couple years ago. It reads Where
I’m From by Michelle Sanderbeck. I think you will
better understand my daughter’s inner soul and the reason we
believe in this cause so much. It’s our passion, our commitment
to doing the right thing. Michelle would still be with us in
body and soul if youth driving was made safer. So, vote “YES”.
Thank you, drive safe and hold your kids tight.
Ray, Debbie, and Jacki Sanderbeck
Our Michelle would have turned sixteen on April 17, 2006. She was a beautiful girl with a promising future, a flare for the dramatics and a passion for writing. One of her writings that we will always cherish was written by Michelle a couple of years ago for a school project. We think it captures Michelle’s spirit, imagination, and what was important to her. It has found a special place in our hearts and we would like to share it with you, so that you will better understand her inner soul. Beginning with the title, it reads:
Where I’m From
By Michelle Sanderbeck
I am from necklaces and pink lace and long thin
toes,
From XOXO’s, coach purse and dangling earrings.
I am from pink brick and cracked mortar
That was built upon my foundation.
I am from luxurious yellow roses, and blood red maples
As a reminder of the rebirth of summer.
I’m from holiday gatherings, Italian pasta to glazed ham
dinners.
I’m from summer vacations, staying up late at night, and
hanging out with the best cousins, aunts and uncles that one could
imagine.
From a Poppy who tells the best stories and Grandpa who sneezes
up a storm.
I’m from the highly motivated and those who need a shove
once and a while,
I’m from say something nice or not say anything at all,
I’m from the Catholics who genuflect and to those who believe.
I’m from Pittsburgh where we root for the Steelers,
From Grandma who use to work out faithfully at 7 a.m.
My Grammy who prays daily to the saints, “For everyone.”
In my spacious family room, behind the cabinets of oak doors,
Where we all gather to watch TV as a family.
That’s where my precious memories will lie forever.
I would like to add that our family will remember Michelle, as a “Girly Girl” that loved to shop with a zest for life. She had this contagious smile that could brighten any room. She was bigger than life itself. She was such a loving girl, with a heart that was truly made of gold. Her wisdom was beyond her years. She gave such good advice to everybody: friends, cousins, aunts, uncles, her sister Jacki, her mother Debbie, and even her dad. Michelle was amazing like that. She brought laughter out in the saddest times. She brought so much joy into our lives and into the life of anybody that she touched. You see, Michelle had this unique ability to make people feel special. If you hung out with Michelle, she made you feel that you were the center of attention. That’s a gift that many people don’t possess, but for our Michelle it came naturally. Our family has not only lost a niece, a cousin, a granddaughter, a sister and a daughter, but we have lost our best friend. Michelle was our inspiration and a rock that we built our foundation on. Even though we are not able to physically touch her anymore, when we look into our backyard and see the blood red maple we will think of pink lace, dangling earrings and those long thin toes. And we will remember Michelle’s beautiful smile and sparking eyes. Michelle was our Leading Star. We will remember her love and her touch. She will be in our hearts and minds forever! But she would still be with us in body. If youth driving was made safer.
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