Ann Day and the Drunk Driver

May 9, 2016 — Ann Day, Arizona, drunk driving, Tucson

Don’t Drink and Drive

After a long career in public service Ann Day had retired from the Board of Supervisors in Pima County. The 77-year-old was driving alone on Saturday morning when a drunk driver crossed a raised median and slammed head on into her vehicle.  The car behind could not stop in time, and crashed into the back of her car.  She was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly after the accident.  This tragic death took place at 7:40 am.  We don’t know if the driver woke up and started drinking or was still drunk from Friday night.  He has been charged with manslaughter for this senseless death.

Ann and her older sister Sandra Day O’Connor grew up on a cattle ranch founded by her paternal grandfather in 1880 near the New Mexico border.  Henry Clay Day was a homesteader on his ranch when Geronimo was still roaming that land.  The family history is Arizona history, with an emphasis on education.  Henry Clay Day served as chairman of the board of supervisors of Graham County, setting an example that Ann and her esteemed sister would follow.  Ann served 10 years in the state senate and 12 years on the Pima County Board of Supervisors.  She was a Republican who was known for her independent streak.  She was well-respected by colleagues and constituents, many of whom are expressing their grief about this tragedy.

She was killed near the shopping center where Gabby Giffords was shot.  My own parents were shoppers at that center.  They might have been at the Safeway had the shootings happened a few years earlier.  My mom and dad took the transport to that center, operated by assisted living facility where they rented an apartment.  My dad loved to drive the Safeway carts inside the store because it was the only driving he was allowed to do at that point. Jarred Laughlin could have gunned down my parents had timing been different.  That is exactly the thought I have when I drive past that center.

The irony of public servants loosing life to loose canons of various kinds is not lost on me.  Ann Day was not targeted for her political service like Gabby.   She was randomly selected to die as the result of one of our society’s ugliest problems, drunk driving.  Jarrad Barnes, 24 years old, is charged for taking the life of  a woman he did not know.  Since her family and her history are prominent we can only hope this will bring much-needed attention and solutions to the drunk driving epidemic in America.  We can’t take away everyone’s cars, so we need to change public behavior.  This common habit has touched too many families in this country.  We need to solve this serious problem.

Don’t Drink and Drive