Rachel's Story
At 3:30 p.m. on February 3, 2020, a small group of cross-country and track runners left Moore High School and started down the sidewalk on what was supposed to be a 10-minute run through a residential neighborhood. Less than a minute later, a driver intoxicated by alcohol and marijuana swerved across the oncoming lane of Main Street and struck the teens from behind, critically injuring several.
My 17-year-old daughter Rachel was killed instantly. Her friend Yuridia Martinez died the next morning, and her friend Kolby Crum died 12 days later. Four other runners suffered injuries--some severe--but survived. Three lives were ended that day and many more were scarred forever because of the senseless, selfish act of one man who chose to drive after drinking. This man is now serving three consecutive life sentences in prison.
Rachel was loved by everyone she knew. She was a dedicated and determined athlete, having been a student of Tae Kwon Do before pursuing running as a freshman. To stay conditioned, she even joined the high school swim team her senior year. she had recently been accepted to Ouchita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, on an academic and cross-country scholarship, and was excited to enter the next phase of her life. She literally was counting down the days until her 18th birthday--a milestone she would never reach..
Rachel was a born-again Christian, and her faith was evident to those around her. After her death, the stories told to us by her friends were heartwarming--stories of how she would go out of her way to befriend and include those who weren't necessarily part of the "in crowd," stories about she was "everyone's best friend." Rachel had a habit of writing herself little motivational notes. After her death, I found one on her dresser--a little scrap of paper that simply said: "I want to trust God more."
In the days and weeks after the incident (we refuse to call it an "accident"), the Moore community came together again as it had in previous tragedies such as the massive tornadoes of 1999 and 2013, displaying the "Moore Strong" spirit for which it is so well known. Although the outpouring of love and support toward us was immense, our loss was more so. Parents should not have to bury a child. Our comfort came--and still comes--only from the certain knowledge of two things: God is good, and she is with Him.
Those who injure, maim, and kill others while driving impaired almost always have previous convictions for impaired driving, as was the case of the man that killed my daughter and her friends. Sadly, we as a society don't sufficiently value the thousands of impaired driving victims, or else we'd do more to keep habitual offenders off the street.
After Rachel's death, I was able to access her phone and view all of her photos--a priceless treasure indeed. I came across another one of her motivational messages, this time in a photo taken of the palm of her hand, on which she had written: "Finish It!" That short message, which I now wear 24/7 on a bracelet on my wrist, reminds me of this verse:
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." (II Timothy 4:7). On February 3, 2020, Rachel finished the race that God had set before her, and she finished well. May we all do the same.