I usually try to use a witty title to sum up a blog entry...but there's nothing witty about what's been running through my mind for the past several days. We heard yesterday that 21 year-old Bradley Bunte had passed away from his injuries suffered on Friday evening. He'd been on life support after he was hit by two vehicles while crossing University Avenue against the light. The accident is under investigation but no tickets have been issued, as it seems to be the most tragic of situations that happened in a split second. His family is adamant that this was NOT related to Unofficial celebrations that evening.

Brad's parents issued a statement through the University (where Brad was a junior in journalism, and a writer for the Daily Illini) that was published Sunday in the News-Gazette. It was profound and heartbreaking, and BRAVE. Read it HERE. Their eloquence and the kindness they showed toward others involved in the accident bowled me over. I can't even imagine their pain, or how life has instantly (and forever) changed for that family...and for those who were driving the vehicles in the accident. It's horrific on every level.

We can all give examples of people who were taken "too soon." When I was about 12, a 3rd grader at my school died of leukemia. Her name was Amy. We barely understood death at that age, but kids recognize a senseless loss. A brilliant classmate died violently my senior year and his grave is not far from my grandmother's. She died at 82 after a long, happy life - he was murdered at 18. In January one of my close friends from high school was killed when she was thrown from a snowmobile. The helmet didn't save her. I still can't fully accept that one.

My heart goes out to Brad's family and friends, and to the drivers that night. I'm so, so sorry. It feels insufficient and awkward to say as a stranger, but I really mean it. And I know I'm not the only person in this big small town who may not have known Brad, but who grieves for you still.