Yesterday on the news, I learned of a terrible local accident where two children were crossing the road with their mother and sister. One child died at the scene and I just learned that the other died today.

"Basil Shahin, 7, and his brother Kaled, 9, were crossing Falls of Neuse Road at Spring Forest Road with their mother and sister about 4:45 p.m. Wednesday. Witnesses said the mother, holding the boys by their hands, stopped in front of vehicles waiting in the left-turn lane. But the boys kept walking and were struck by a 1992 Toyota 4Runner going south on Falls of Neuse Road. Their sister had made it across the street."

She was HOLDING their hands! They were 'big' kids at 7 and 9 years of age!

This is such an important reminder to be extra careful with our kids near cars  streets, parking lots, driveways, anywhere. Children do not have a sense for the danger and they are typically out of eyesight. We hear all the time about children who are struck in their own driveways because their parents don't see them behind the cars.

This is just another reminder to all of you parents out there. For more information, please visit this great web site for more information and ideas: www.kidsandcars.org

If you want to help, they have a petition for better car safety standards to prevent backover and car window strangulation incidents. You can send a petition to your lawmaker through this link.

I apologize for such a sad post right before the weekend, but it's been consuming my thoughts. My thoughts are with the Shahin family and all families who face the terrible tragedy of a child lost. Please think of them.

Source: News and Observer 2008