| on 07-09-2009
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Roadside memorials are something we all pass every day while driving, walking, or riding a bike. They have always caught my attention and made me wonder about the person or people that died. Were they driving drunk or the victims of a drunk driver? Were they racing another driver and lost control? Was it a pedestrian hit by a car? Did somebody fall asleep at the wheel? Maybe they were eating, talking on their cell phone, or putting on makeup. Maybe they were involved in a road rage incident and paid the ultimate price like a friend of mine in high school and roommate after.
There are many things that cause accidents on the roads. I know I have been guilty of a few of these scenarios and I consider myself an excellent driver. I have been in accidents and had many other close calls. Roadside memorials (some that I drive by daily) are a reminder that life is a precious thing and can be taken away in an instant. At any moment a red light runner could take you out. Bam! Poof. The End.
This photo project is not meant to be a morbid display of our mortality but a mention of those who lost their lives and a reminder for everyone (myself included) to be more careful and responsible while driving. Don't drive if you are tired, call the person back when you get to your destination, avoid texting while driving, pull over to eat your lunch, and call a friend or take a cab if you have had to much to drink.
One of the things that I like about photographing roadside memorials is they are all different. Many of them have at least the names or dates of the people who died. Some of them are blank crosses. Most all have flowers. Some of them are at busy city intersections while others are on quiet stretches of country roads. I will attempt to find out how the people died through news sources and post the information along with the photos. If anybody out there sees one they recognize and has information that I do not - please feel free to post it in the comment section or send it to me and I will add it to the post. (Comments will be moderated so please do not be disrespectful or they will be deleted.)
There are quite a few roadside memorials within five miles of my house. I remember some of the accidents when they happened but I also notice others that I never knew about. Here are some of those in this first set of the project. My condolences go out to all of the families and friends who have lost loved ones on our roads.
William Cannon and Westgate, Austin TX. No name.
William Cannon and Mopac. No name.
Heather and Mike. Slaughter Lane near Mopac - Austin, TX. I remember when this accident happened. There is now a guardrail protecting their roadside memorials where they hit the tree.
Please drive safely.
See all photos of this project also on flickr.
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