Nathan Chase
Nathan Chase is a co-founder and the designer of Flickchart. He's also a multimedia designer & developer living in central Florida, an online culture and social networking enthusiast, a proud father, an avid PC gamer, an incessant movie watcher, known for an eclectic musical taste, and often writing and performing music - on the drums, guitar, piano, or computer. You can find Nathan on Flickchart as Zampa, and email him at nathan@flickchart.com.
Dunn was drunk. This was not a reality TV stunt gone wrong; this was the direct consequence of a selfish, thoughtless individual making poor choices. I may be particularly sensitive to the topic of drunk driving, as I was only 10 when the worst drunk driving accident in the country took place about 20 minutes from where I live: an intoxicated driver crossed into oncoming traffic and hit a school bus full of children. It was horrific. I’ll never forget reading about a girl partially melted.
Ryan Dunn may have been likable and popular, but I’m simply grateful that the only bodies being laid to rest are his and that of the passenger who elected to sit beside a drunk driver. I’m sure it’s upsetting for their loved ones, and I do extend my condolences to them. But we can no longer afford to characterize the death of a drunken driver as the “worst” thing that could happen. I know for a fact that plenty worse than his own death could have taken place.
If Dunn had hit a school bus full of children, the reaction right now would be one of contempt rather than some kind of perverse martyrdom. Are we really suggesting that the extent of how destructive a drunk driver is is all that separates heroes from villains? If so, that’s despicable.