NOVEMBER 5, 1976
Jack Barnett's Sad Story Warns Teenage Drivers
Have you ever thought about drag racing? Decide for yourself who won this race.
On Friday, Oct. 22, members of the junior class met for an assembly in the auditorium. A very special man, named Mr. Jack Barnett, age 32, was introduced to them and told a tragic story.
When Jack was 17, he owned a white convertible. One Friday night, while Jack was in the diner of his small hometown, he was challenged to a drag race by one of his friends.
The speedometer was nearing 70 mph. around the curve when Jack's car skidded off the road, careened into a ditch, and flipped over leaving Jack pinned underneath.
Jack was in and out of hospitals and rehabilitation centers for three years following the accident.
Today he lives with his parents and brothers and sisters and has many friends who help care for him. His ordeal has been traumatic and expensive. It was a result of negligent driving.
Jack now spends his time urging teenagers to be responsible and exhibit safe driving habits. Why? It's possible he feels the satisfaction that maybe today he saved just one life as a result of his story. It is unfortunate that for some people it takes a shocking reality, such as the ordeal of Jack Barnett, to open their eyes to the dangers of reckless driving.