Friday morning at 9:45 a.m, the usual things were happening to me. I had gotten up early like I do every Friday and headed to my sessions in Heavener. I recall all of us hearing the sirens blare, but we were all so busy with ourselves we laughed it off and figured it was just another police car chasing your classic speeder in the early hours of the morning. This was not the case however. Friday morning at 9:45 a.m., we lost a fellow Gator, a fellow human being, Abigail Dougherty.

I did not know much about her, just that she was kindest person some people had ever met. She was a Campus Diplomat and a student assistant at our on campus pantry, Field and Fork. She was very passionate about service, something I can relate to. Regardless of her accomplishments however, we still lost one of our own, one of the good ones. I’m sure most of us are asking ourselves for the millionth time, why do the good ones always have to go first?

The saddest part of this tragedy is that I’d like to think it could have been prevented. If the driver of the garbage truck had just turned his or her head for a split second or maybe if Abby had turned her head for a second and seen the truck she would’ve stopped her bike. I’d like to believe something could’ve stopped her parents from getting that phone call to tell them their daughter had been in accident.

I couldn’t help but remember all the times my mother has said “There is no way on earth you are getting a bicycle or a motorcycle; keep dreaming.” In essence, I figured these things would get me to campus faster and I wouldn’t have to walk. I have heard of too many accidents involving cyclists and people on scooters getting hit by cars or hitting pedestrians. Personally, I’ve almost been hit at least a dozen times while I was already in the middle of the crosswalk. Let’s not get started on how angry that makes me because I was already in the crosswalk, it’s not like I was just about to start walking and then you sped up.

Yet, the most important lesson we can take from this is to be cautious and watch out for our fellow humans. Drivers, please turn your head and check for cyclists around campus. It’s true what they say about how your whole life can change in thirty seconds. That’s exactly what happened to Abby’s family and also the driver of that garbage truck. Cyclists, watch out for cars and pedestrians because you never know when one of them could throw themselves into your path. Make sure you are ALWAYS wearing your helmets. You could potentially save yourself and your family from a horrible tragedy. Granted in some situations a helmet will do nothing, but sometimes it can save your life. I know we all think we look stupid or silly with our helmets on, but your life is worth much more than not wearing a helmet because you think you look ugly. Pedestrians, watch out for cars and for cyclists. Stop if you see a bike lane to make sure no one is coming full speed at you. Make sure the cars are actually going to stop for you. I know this isn’t your job because you have the right of way, but try your very hardest to take two seconds to possibly prevent a tragedy.

I am not a parent so I don’t know what that phone call feels like, but I can only imagine it is the most devastating, life-altering sentence of your life. I pray I am never that parent and that none of you ever experience what this family has gone through. I hope you are never that victim, but life is never predictable. Drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, I beg of you to look out for one another.

I hope your Friday at 9:45 a.m., is just another normal Friday.