As of Jan. 1, there have been 14 fatalities on the roads of Maui County. I'm sure not one of these people planned to be in a fatal car accident on that particular day.
It's important to remember that you're not the only person on the road at any given time. There are families, children, aunties and uncles whose lives are also in your hands when you get behind the wheel.
One day, I was late for work and didn't consider the repercussions my reckless driving would have on others. As a result, 8-year-old Will Smith died when I lost control of the car I was driving on June 3, 2007.
I never imagined an accident that took a young boy's life could happen to me. As a result of my actions on that fatal day, many lives have been affected. There are no words to express how terrible I feel to have caused Will's family and friends so much grief.
Every day I think about the morning of June 3, 2007, and wish I had made better choices. It's my hope that others will learn from my mistakes and make better decisions while driving.
Words cannot express the remorse I feel for Will's mother, Susan; brother, Charlie; and extended family and friends. I would once again like to ask for their forgiveness and extend my deepest empathy to everyone involved.
Good people learn from their mistakes, great people learn from other people's mistakes.
Brittney Mooney
Lahaina
