Parents understand

I can't help but wonder what percentage of the adults sitting in the Highland County Common Pleas courtroom today were parents.

By my rough estimate, in addition to the 12 jurors and two alternates, the state counsel and the defense counsel, the Hon. Judge Rocky Coss, the support staff for the court, the various witnesses, the press and those seated in the courtroom gallery, there were maybe 50 to 60 people in attendance. All adults.

Many of them I've known for years.

The case was the State of Ohio v. Logan Walker. Testimony concluded Tuesday afternoon around 1:30 p.m., with closing points wrapping up by 3 p.m.

Mr. Walker was indicted following a Nov. 22, 2012 fatal crash off Green Road in Liberty Township after an admitted night of drinking.

He was charged with vehicular homicide. The victim was his best friend, 22-year-old Marshall Banks, a gifted college baseball player and Whiteoak High School graduate.

The courtroom testimony was, at times, heartbreaking for both families. Yet, both families remained civil and exercised proper restraint throughout the testimony.

A few of the victim's family members did politely walk out during some rather graphic description of the crash aftermath by the defendant's attorney. That's understandable.

Attorneys for the prosecution and defense called the incident a tragic – and avoidable – event. It was.

One parent, seated behind me, was overheard to lament, "All I did was warn, warn, warn. I should have done more."

How could he – or any parent – do more, short of restraining an adult son or a daughter from life's uncertainties?

Hearing those softly spoken words – words that were not meant for my ears or the court's – I thought of my own three children.

How often have I warned them about such potential consequences?

Probably not often enough.

My parents warned me. (For full disclosure, in my younger years, I didn't listen nearly as often as I should have; or later wished that I had. Trust me. I have been there. I am familiar with the restricted views.)

But even if a parent warns his children on a daily basis about the hazards of drinking and driving as they approach their late teens and enter their early 20s, once a serious accident happens, I'll bet even the best of parents would still be blaming themselves.

Sitting in the courtroom today, I know that this particular parent did blame himself. He shouldn't have. But no one among us can tell that to a grieving parent. Only a parent understands. In fact, parents understand all too well.

As much grief as the victim's family has suffered and endured since that fateful night and early morning of Nov. 21-22, 2012, let there be no mistake that the defendant's family has suffered, too. Not nearly so much, to be sure.

They did not lose a son. Still, they hurt. They must live with the consequences and accept accountability – regardless of any jury's verdict or subsequent appeal.

There was no mincing of words in court today.

Defense counsel James Boulger told the jury: "If there's one thing that sticks out in this case, it would be so easy for Logan to recover his memory and tell you who was driving. Who could contradict him? But he hasn't done that. It speaks worlds to his character. Take that circumstantial evidence and give Logan Walker every reasonable doubt."

In her closing comments, Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins rejected the notion that there is not sufficient physical evidence. She also asked jurors to remember their common-sense application to the law.

"Common sense says Logan Walker was intoxicated; he was drinking throughout the night; he even testified that he was (drinking). The doctor even kept him at the hospital because he was so intoxicated.

"His blood alcohol level was more than two times the legal limit. You don't have to give the defendant reasonable doubt. This case is a tragedy. Marshall was in college, playing baseball and planning a wedding. Look at the evidence. Find the defendant guilty of killing Marshall Banks on Nov. 22, 2012."

Both attorneys presented their respective cases very well. Neither the victim's family nor the defendant's family should feel otherwise.

Perhaps those with the most difficult task in the courtroom were the 12 jurors. Again, that's not unusual.

If there's one "takeaway" from all of this, please let it be a message to young people. Please hear. Please listen. Please learn.

There is a natural, biological time for our eventual passing from this earth. As Father David Fay wrote atop one of my college philosophy papers a million years ago, "We all must die."

True enough.

While such inevitable deaths among our elderly loved ones will always be sad occasions, they are much less tragic than the clearly avoidable deaths of our youthful children and grandchildren in these motor-vehicle accidents.

A few years ago, someone in college asked me to fill out a questionnaire about the newspaper/media business. One of the questions was related to the "likes and dislikes" about the profession.

There are many "likes."

The worst of the "dislikes" are those days when we must report on fatal car accidents. Especially those that were so easily preventable.

May God bless and watch over the Banks and Walker families in their time of need. And may the families forgive this parent for not better expressing his sentiments toward each family.

I am sorry for what all of you are going through. I'm sure our community feels the same way. If not, they should.

Rory Ryan is publisher of The Highland County Press.