1995 tragedy still yields sad memories

By Tara Drach

Although the painful memories aren’t as fresh as they once were, every spring when I see signs for graduation and senior prom hanging outside of high schools I am reminded of my own graduation and the loss of young life that took place that night.

In the spring of 1995, six Littleton, Colo., high school students, including a childhood friend of mine, lost their lives in an alcohol-related car accident.

My friend, Nate Gladwin, just 17 years old, was driving five of his friends home from a keg party when the power of alcohol and the excitement of graduation took over.

The teenage belief of invincibility forced him to try and outrun an oncoming train. They lost. Six teenagers were killed instantly as their car burst into flames.

Six lives full of potential--gone forever.

When the Corona PTO faxed a flyer advertising Grad Night 2002 to our newsroom my interest was piqued.

After several interviews I discovered that no graduates have been killed in alcohol related traffic accidents on graduation night since adoption of the program 12 years ago.

If our high school had a grad night, would those six teenagers who would now be in their mid-20s have lived to go on to college, have careers, get married, have children and live otherwise full lives?

Sadly, we’ll never know. 

(back)