Sorry I couldn't come up with a picture, Sharon. Thanks for running this anyway.

OK Jason, I took it off the top post. I initially put a photo of Grayson City Hall up, and then thought better of it. Since the wreck didn't happen inside Grayson city limits I will upset some folks if I make that link. Sad at any location. What a horrible start to summer. We've had too many tragedies in the last couple of weeks.

I am sad to learn that the girls did not have seat belts on.... As a parent of a 22 yr old GHS grad I can't tell you how many times I asked if she always wore hers. Please parents do anything you can to instill basic safety facts to your kids. The fellow who hit them seems to be a DUI driver and potentially not legal.... Choices he made were all wrong and selfish.

This article is offensive to me as a parent and to the Grayson community as a whole. "Is there something wrong in Grayson"? Are you serious? If I read this right, your opinion is that this poor girl died because she didn't fear consequences and she was cursed to live in Grayson. You are grouping this tragedy in with tragic CHOICES kids make. Yes, I do agree that SOME kids do make some bad choices but the parents of these girls do not need to have someone question whether or not the accident that took place was due to the fact that the child had no fear of consequences. Mr. Brooks, I have been a fan of your blog in the past but I take offense to this and I hope there are many other concerned, protective parents out there who feel the same way.

Obviously not wearing seatbelts is bad. But the tone of this blog was not simply about seatbelts not being worn.

I completely agree with the post! I have 2 children ages 10 (she will be 11 on the 28th of this month) and 9 1/2 (he will be 10 in January). I think if this post "offends" anyone it is because of the guilt they may be feeling over letting their children run wild or even just constantly taking turning a blind eye. There are so many parents that immediately jump to the line "my child would never do that" without actually seeing how their children (and yes...teenagers ARE children) act when they are not around. As parents, we do what we think is best when raising our kids, but too many parents slack off once their children become teenagers and instead of tightening the rope on the kids, they let it go altogether. When our children become teenagers that is time when we as parents should be "all up in their faces". We should ask where they are going, who they will be with, and set limits as to curfew. We should check to make sure they are telling the truth. If the kids don't like it, tough! When they are 18, they can move out. Until then, however, those children (teens) are our responsibility and every decision they make whether you are around them or not is a reflection of your parenting and the values and morals you have taught them.

Laura - I am sorry to have offended you, and I certainly didn't mean to insinuate that either Brittany or Lauren were in the wrong on this accident. Neither of the girls were accused of doing anything illegal, and I should have made that point stronger in the post.

Perhaps my juxtaposing this accident with my greater concern for the students in Grayson was, as you said, was I'll-advised. In putting the two together I do create an implicit connection that misleads. I accost responsibility for that.

But my greater concern still stands - we do have some troubling issues in Grayson, and I'm learning that they extend to even those kids who would seem to be immune. As such, I thought it worth the public discussion. Next time, I will do a better job of making my point.

As always, thank you for calling me out and for being passionate about our city. I know you deeply love Grayson and are an advocate for its citizens. It shows in your response.

Please forgive the auto-corrected errors in my reply. My iPad doesn't like how I type.

Thanks, Mr. Brooks. My offense came mainly that the opinion about the choices kids make was grouped with this tragedy. I am the LAST person to say "my child will never" as I know that all kids, even the ones that are looked at as being the "good kids" can make bad choices. I have 4 kids. Two have made it successfully out of high school (one is even out of college) without anything tragic happening to them. And we have two left in high school that we pray for protection over every single day. Sometimes kids make choices that result in tragedy and that doubles the tragedy. These girls did not and their parents don't need to feel guilty on top of feeling the greatest sadness they will ever face in their life.

Why do you have to point fingers at Grayson. We are a tight knit community and it is unfortunate that teens have died recently in Grayson. I am sure every surrounding city has issues with teens and the way they are growing up. It would be alot better if people would pay attention and stay focused on their own families instead of pointing out the problems with other peoples kids. My heart goes out to the girls families and this is not a reflection of the girls and how they have been raised or act because they live in grayson. This accident was terrible and we need to unite as a community and learn from this terrible tragedity that Life is short so tell your kids you love them everyday. It was wrong for you to say "Is something wrong with Grayson." Nobody wants anything to happen to their kids, accidents happen all over Georgia. May god bless both families and may they know that GRAYSON as a community cares and our prayers go out to them.

I have read this article, and I have to say I see both points. I do see how it can be offensive in light of this tragedy and the tragedy just six months ago, however, I do feel like there is a growing problem, or maybe it is more evident to me because I am now the parent rather than the teenager. While this issue has nothing to do with this horrific tragedy, it is important to address the problem that our youth is faced with, not just Grayson, but all over. Maybe this was bad timing, however. I see my son everyday make some good decisions, but I also have a fear of a bad decision. It scares me everyday. I do feel like the word "accountablility" has been lost in our dictionary for lack of use. This is a great forum topic, just not for today and certainly not linked to this story. Today, Grayson needs to come together and just support these families and these young people as they try and make sense of yet another senseless, sudden tragedy. I would like to see this topic brought back and discussed again, however, but at a much later time.

The title of this opinion piece could have been better thought out.... like "Is Something Wrong EVERYWHERE"....

Obviously the way the 2 issues presented heree probably wasn't the best-that's been acknowledged humbly by Mr. Brooks;however,being a former Grayson Daycare-> GHS student-someone who deeply loves Grayson even though I don't live there anymore-SEPARATE from this tragic accident,I do agree w/what you're saying,Jason,about the concern w/students&some of the choices that are being made.This is a conversation that absolutely needs to occur&solutions created.As a youth minister&as wonderful parents(Mrs.Laura is one of those wonderful parents!:0))yall r in the perfect positions to influence 4change.I grew up w/the young man that did this&he was always the sweetest guy but has made tremendously tragic choices that not only affects him,but others.My heart breaks 4all involved.I was in 10th gr when the 3 precious girls died on Hope Hollow.2 of them were my friends&that event changed my life.That same school yr,another tragic death of a friend involving drugs.The thought of that tradgedy still breaks my heart for the life lost.That whole yr I saw friends and acquaintances make decisions that were extremely destructive. Things were accessable that shouldn't have been so accessable.10th gr was my testimony shaping yr :)I now teach 7th grade&I am noticing that what we had access to in 10th,these kids know about.It's SO SAD that KIDS are making too many ADULT decisions.It's a conversation worth having for solutions to be made.Grayson could become the model city for positive youth change :)

So no, it's not just a Grayson problem, it's an everywhere problem. But the best innovation always comes out of there being a problem. :)

At 16 years old, my curfew was 10pm. I would have never been allowed to leave at 9:30 to go out. Kids make bad decisions, parents can effect them. It's a tragic accident. It's a problem everywhere. When I was growing up, Grayson was a small town. It's not so small anymore. Liquor store being built, a bar, unsupervised kids at the park. I agree with Jason.

I am just sick over all of this. My daughter and her friend know these girls and are heart-broken over it. I wish some people would think about what they want to say before they post it. I am so sorry to the families that are a part of this horrible ACCIDENT. Rebecca, I love what you had to say. I could not put it better, even if I tried. We all need to get back to just loving our kids and doing our very best to raise them in good Christian homes and pray for their safe-keeping everyday. I live outside the city limits, but I have family and friends that do. I care about the Grayson community and I do feel a part of it. Lastly, I will say that parents that don't have teenagers right now should not make comments or accusations about other parents of teenagers. It is so hard to try and do the right thing everytime where your teens are concerned, but I know that I do the best I can and pray everyday that my daughter makes the right decisions. I am not ashamed to admit I make mistakes, but I also do my best to keep God first in my life and my childrens lives and hope they continue that for themselves.

I read Jason Brooks' blogs all the time, and this is the most interesting one ever. It seem so honest and not as guarded or safe as the other ones. First off, my condolences to Angel's family. That's such a profound loss. But lighten up people, this blogger had no ill intentions. I guess the timing is wrong. If this was written 6 months from, only 3 people would've read it. I'm a mother of 3 teenage boys. The first one is 18 years old, and managed to get him to wait until he turned 18 to get his driver's license. The 2nd one is 16, and I'm doing everything NOT to let him get his DL until he's 18 too. I think the laws should change so that teenagers get their DLs at 18 years old. I don't believe teens have enough life experience to be able to handle dangerous situations on the road. And calm down people, not every foreigner is illegal or are always the evil-doer. The teen was in the wrong, and the other driver was DUI. He didn't cause the accident. Nothing is wrong with Grayson, Angel was just too young to be driving on her own.

Jennifer, I'm sorry I don't understand why because I haven't deleted any. Are you sure you hit the submit button? I have sometimes lost my comments by hitting enter instead of submit. Try and repost it and see if that works.

It's unfortunate events like this that bring our center back to what is really important. I feel this is one of God's painful ways of "reminding" US to hold our babies tight & be grateful for our blessings b/c we cannot control when our time on this earth is done. Unfortunately, our world has to endure pain & suffering. We've lost 2 teen girls recently who happened to go to the same high school, taken early in life by car accidents & who happen to share an inspirational name-R.I.P."HOPE" & "ANGEL". Call me crazy, but God had a big hand in this. My silver angel clip on my car visor reminds me of how precious life is, though at trying times, it is hard to live each day as if it were our last. We ARE human. My daughter will be driving in a few years, & I do agree with others that 16 is quite young to be responsible for being in control of such a deadly weapon. We must use our parental instincts with our children and make decisions based on their maturity level, etc. Every teen is different and maturity levels and experience can vary a great bit.

(Had to post in 2 sections since it was too large!)
We as parents are "raising adults", not children. All we can do is teach them by being an example how to be respectful, independent, responsible, & loving. My daughter will get her "wings" & fly (as long as she continues making good choices & grades) & all we can do is continue to press Christian values & unconditional love into her as she begins a whole new exciting & scary world as a freshman at GHS. Parents, squeeze your babies tight! Love your significant other & live like there is no tomorrow. Just had to put that out there. Praying for Angel's family.

I would like to see a correction made...the young lady who survived this tragic accident is Lacey Gowens...not Lauren Gowan.

Jason, could you check and see about this correction if it is necessary. I couldn't find any reference on a search. Thanks!