For good or for bad, people often feel a sense of security within the confined space of their vehicles, like it’s a cocoon of safety. Doing what we do at Kelley | Uustal, we’ve come to learn that, for the most part, it’s an illusion. This illusion is shattered for us every time we are called upon by a family that has asked us, “Why did this happen?” to comb through the remnants of an automobile involved in a suspected product defect crash.
A few weeks ago, we were reminded of this again when we were called upon to travel to the high desert plateau near Cedar City, Utah, to examine a truck that we suspect had malfunctioned, claiming the life of the young man behind the wheel.
As this somber quest unfolds and we sift through the wreckage, our dedication to reconstructing the “why of it” takes shape to fathom the sequence of events that culminated in this tragedy. In a way, this truck becomes an all too real metaphor for the ephemeral nature of our surroundings and the unpredictable (or predictable but hidden) forces that can so quickly dismantle the illusion of safety.
We’ll figure it out.
In the meantime, remember to wear your seatbelt, hug your family, and tell them you love them every chance you get.
