August 2, 1982- Amanda Lane Harman is born in a hospital in Macon Missouri.
From that moment on the world was
blessed with a wonderful presence. She had an older sister whom she adored and later two younger sisters were born which
she meant the world to. During high school she made many friends and greeted everyone with a smile. She enjoyed many
activities band and choir especially. She was active in Drama, SADD, and FCCLA. She graduated from high school in May
2001. After that she went on to her freshman year at UMKC majoring in vocal music. But all angels must go home sometime...
March 26, 2002- Amanda gets into her Ford Escort and heads to Baldwin City, Kansas south on Interstate 35 to
comfort a friend who's father had recently died from cancer. Around the same time 33 year old David Davidson leaves a bar
and gets onto the same southbound Interstate going north. His blood alochol level was three times the legal .08 level. There
were police officers following him in the north bound lane but they could not get him stopped. Amanda was behind a semi. The
semi driver saw Davidson and swerved to miss him. Amanda was hit head on. The officers that were following Davidson caught
his truck hit her Escort head on with the camera mounted on their cars. Davidson hit his brakes slightly before hitting
her. One of the officers got out of their vehicles and went to Amanda. She was unconscience. He moved her seatbelt so she
was comfortable. He held her hand and asked if she could hear him to squeeze his hand. She did. A few minutes, or maybe seconds
no one is sure, later her hand went limp and she was gone. Davidson died also.
The Aftermath: My family found out
what had happened soon after. We saw pictures and video of her car on the Kansas City news channels. We recieved many phone
calls and visits and the community outreach was wonderful. Our goal now is to stop drunk drivers. Amanda and the many other
people who have been killed by drunks did not deserve it. Alcohol is the only reason they are not here today.
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