Buckle up, stay safe this holiday season — Our view

The coming week is supposed to be a time of joy. A time for families to come together to relax, give thanks and count their blessings.

For many, that will mean hitting the highway to visit friends and family or to take a well-deserved vacation.

That was the plan for the Hardman family of Terrell, Texas. The group of 8 — two adults, and six children ranging in age from 16 to 4 — loaded into the family's Chevy Tahoe last Wednesday and headed for Disney World.

The trip turned tragic about 10:30 p.m. on I-20 near Calhoun, when the 16-year-old driver apparently fell asleep at the wheel. The vehicle veered off the road into the median and flipped several times, slinging six of the passengers out of the car. Five died: Parents Michael and Trudi Hardman and three children, Dakota Watson, 15; Kaci Hardman, 4; and Adam Hardman, 7. According to police, none of those ejected from the vehicle was wearing a seat belt.

The 16-year-old driver, however, was wearing his seat belt. He was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries but was treated and discharged

"Our heartfelt condolences go out to all of the people affected by this tragic crash," said Col. Mike Edmonson, Louisiana State Police superintendent. "Crashes like this one don't just affect the people involved. They affect family members, friends, Troopers, first responders and the community at large. In an instant this family vacation turned into an unspeakable tragedy. I cannot stress enough the importance of wearing a seat belt anytime you are in a vehicle."

With falling gas prices, experts have predicted more people will be on the highways this Thanksgiving than usual. As always, we encourage everyone to buckle up every time they get in a vehicle. Whether you are going across town or across the country, it's critical everyone takes a moment to fasten their seat belt. There is no doubt they save lives and reduce injuries when accidents occur. We wish each of you a safe and happy holiday. One way you can help make that hope a reality is by making sure you buckle up every time you get in a car.

Tell us your story

Speaking of being thankful, we want know what you're thankful for this year.

Maybe it's for a doctor who helped a loved one overcome an illness. Maybe it's for your grandmother's rice dressing recipe. No story is too insignificant or too great.

Send yours by email to metro@thetowntalk.com with the word "thankful" in the subject line along with your name and a phone number where you can be reached in the body of the message. Or you can send us a message on Facebook or tweet us using #cenlathanks.

We'll share our favorite submissions online at thetowntalk.com and in the Thanksgiving Day newspaper.