Colbert Heights hit hard this past week

It is with great sadness, I write this column today. Hearts are just broken all over the Shoals area, with news of two teenagers dying this past week on Hwy. 43 near Littleville. The two accidents happened within a mile of each other.

The latest death was that of the young man to the left, 14-year-old, Stephen Hunter Moore, a student at Colbert Heights High School. He was crossing Hwy. 43 with three of his friends, when a car struck and killed Hunter.

I can say this, some local politicians have taken note of the deaths. Two have expressed their grief over these recent deaths.

Five people have died in the past ten years, where, 14-year-old, Dalton Stewart and his mother died, this past Wednesday. There is an obvious lack of a guard rail on that section of Hwy. 43 North. One can only speculate. Would they have died if if the guard rail was in place? If the drainage was better or if the road more level, would they have slid off to their deaths. We will never know.

I think it would be in the public's best interest to fix the road and erect guard rails on that section of road.

We know words could never describe or ease the pain felt after a young person's death. But we will keep these families in our thoughts and prayers and ask that you do too.