Taken Too Soon

As a parent of a teenager, every time you hear of a serious accident involving young drivers, your heart skips a beat. You pray to God your child is not involved. Then thank the Lord when he isn't.

Then, with your heart beating normally again, you wonder who was involved, do we know them and how did it happen?

I had heard a brief news story on Sunday about two 19-year-olds who were driving before 6 a.m., lost control of their pickup truck, rolled it and struck some trees. I'm still not clear who was driving but Dan Weinfurter was ejected from the pickup and Drew Nelson was found in the back seat, according to the sheriff's department. Both were airlifted from that accident scene (south of Rapids) to the hospital in Marshfield. We knew Sunday morning that both were in critical condition because Jim heard if from Dan's aunt and uncle in church.

We know the Weinfurter family well. Jim has bowled often with at least 3 of them over the years. And any time we go to the races, we are sitting with the Weinfurter gang, cheering for their cousins and nephews – unless they are racing against our nephew Colin, of course.

Dan was a racer, too, and just like Colin, a third-generation driver. He had dreams. Dreams that will never be realized.

By Monday morning it was evident he probably wouldn't make it. Officially, he died Tuesday evening, after many of his organs were harvested and sent on to save other lives. Just like Jim's cousin Ben, who I wrote about last week, Dan impacted lives when he was alive and impacted a few more when he died.

It illustrates that something positive can come from a tragedy. But it in no way minimizes the pain of grief and loss that his parents, brother, family and countless friends are experiencing.

I'm praying for comfort for our "racing family" but also praying God can give Drew, the other victim, strength to survive. Having one local boy – and he is a boy, really – taken too soon is tragic enough.

And if I can add one more prayer, God, please watch over my baby when he's out on the road. My heart is already breaking for Danny's parents. I fear mine would break beyond repair if it hit even closer to home.

Godspeed, Danny.