A shocked father stood on a bridge and watched helplessly as a car was pulled from the cold creek below. Inside, were the bodies of two teenagers, including his 16-year-old daughter.
Shannon Hamilton, the father of 16-year-old Cecily Mcree Hamilton was in with her 18-year-old boyfriend Taylor Swing drove over the edge of a bridge in Gainesville, Georgia. Cecily and her boyfriend died when their car plunged off the bridge in White County and into the water below.
Here’s what Shannon Hamilton while still grieving the death of his beloved daughter:
“I gave her a kiss and told her I loved her. Hugged her freezing body and said goodbye.”
Hamilton said the teens would not have died had there been a guardrail on the side of the bridge. Local officials agreed with the theory but said that plans to build the guardrail were awaiting approval. Hamilton felt progress was too slow, and he became worried that he’d have to witness another car being pulled from the river.
“Every day that goes by is another day that we’re risking a life that goes into that creek,” he said.
So Hamilton put the matters into his own hands because he know something must be done before another accident will happen.
He attempted to erect safety barricades on Gene Nix Road with materials donated by neighbors in the wake of the fatal accident on March 14.
Opposing Views noted:
The berm was meant to provide a temporary solution while local officials figured out the permanent solution.
White County deputies arrived before Hamilton was able to finish his work, and tried to convince him to stop. Authorities notified him they would have to arrest him if he kept working on the berm.
Kale posted a video of his father’s arrest on Facebook and notified Now Habersham in hopes the video will go “viral.”
In the video, Shannon can be heard saying “It’s sad, it’s sad the community of the grieving parents has to make things happen when the White County Roads Department can’t do it.”
Watch it here: Facebook(Kale Hamilton)/Video
The outlet added:
The grieving father went back to work and was arrested for interference with government property. His son watched the arrest being made.
Hamilton told the Gainesville Times he was thankful the officials understood the problem.
“They had to do it,” he said. “They had no choice.”
After being released on bail, Hamilton received support from the local community.
Hamilton insisted he did not want to break the law but felt compelled to protect other families from experiencing what happened to him.
He also began speaking at Cecily’s high school about safe driving as a way to cope with what he went through.
“Tomorrow’s never promised,” he said. “It’s the way I’m grieving, and I’m staying positive to get through the days.”
Source: Opposingviews