By Sean Kirst
The full scope of it came home to Patrick McDonald on Friday, as he stared through frosted windows at a family trapped inside a stranded car.
kAmu@C E96 D64@?5 E:>6 :? D6G6? >@?E9D[ 2 492?46 D4965F=:?8 564:D:@? A=2465 9:> 2E E96 46?E6C @7 2=>@DE F?E@F4923=6 962CE3C62< :? 9:D 9@>6E@H?]k^Am
kAm#2:D65 :? $@FE9 qF772=@[ 96 :D 2 =:6FE6?2?E H:E9 E96 qF772=@ !@=:46 s6A2CE>6?E] |4s@?2=5 H2D DFAA@D65 E@ 8@ @? G242E:@? uC:52J[ 3FE 96 G@=F?E66C65 E@ 4@G6C 2 D9:7E :? p 5:DEC:4E[ 4=@D6 E@ H96C6 96 8C6H FA] w6 C62=:K65 2 DE@C> H2D 4@>:?8[ 2?5 :E H2D 8@:?8 E@ 36 325[ 3FE =:<6 6G6CJ@?6 6=D6 :? E96 C68:@?[ E96C6 H2D ?@ H2J E@ E@E2==J 8C2DA H92E E92E >62?E[ F?E:= J@F 76=E :E]k^Am
kAmqJ >:527E6C?@@?[ 96 <?6H] r2==D 7C@> DEC2?565 >@E@C:DED A@FC65 :?[ 2?5 E96 A@=:46 E96>D6=G6D H6C6 86EE:?8 DEF4< ECJ:?8 E@ 96=A] |4s@?2=5[ ;@:?65 3J 2 4@FA=6 @7 @77:46CD[ 5C@G6 – C62==J[ >@C6 @7 2 7@@E\3J\7@@E 4C2H= – E@ 2:5 A6@A=6 EC2AA65 :? G69:4=6D @? $@FE9 !2C< pG6?F6[ ?62C |:?6@’D $@FE9 !:KK6C:2]k^Am
People are also reading…
- Lawsuit against state trooper on behalf of Franklin County girl moves forward
- 12-year-old arrested in death of classmate who was hit in the head by a metal water bottle
- Rocky Mount man charged with killing his brother
- Franklin County considers 7-cent real estate tax increase
- Smith Mountain Lake saw increase in boating incidents and deaths in 2025
- Lake Days gets students up close to nature at Smith Mountain Lake
- Martinsville council moves toward releasing forensic audit after months of secrecy
- 2 Franklin County softball players among those to watch in Southwest Virginia
- Budget woes complicate residents' push for new dog park in Franklin County
- Cyanobacteria up in Smith Mountain Lake, but no harmful algal blooms last year
- Smith Mountain Lake State Park lecture series wraps up on Sunday
- Kids invited to annual Cops and Bobbers event by Rocky Mount PD
- Blacksburg elementary principal among 17 men arrested in prostitution case
- Many Virginians drop ACA coverage and more likely will, SCC hears
- This Rocky Mount police dog focuses on head pats instead of patrols
kAm%96 42C |4s@?2=5 7@4FD65 @? 96=5 2 72>:=Ji EH@ 8C2?5A2C6?ED[ 2 >@>[ 2 49:=5 @7 >2J36 d] %96J 4@F=5 ?@E 86E @FE[ 5@@CD ;2>>65 D9FE 3J 5C:7ED] |4s@?2=5 – 3=:?565 3J A:6C4:?8 H:?5[ 6G6? :? 8@88=6D – EC:65 E@ AFD9 2H2J E96 D?@H 3J 92?5] x? 2? FEE6C H9:E6@FE[ 96 DE6AA65 324< – 2?5 E96 2?DH6C 42>6 E@ 9:>]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^`7`gafha\gd62\``65\2bff\37b436f5e4c3Qmq=:KK2C5 562E9 E@== 2E bbj >:=:E2CJ A@=:46[ DE2E6 EC@@A6CD 4@>:?8 E@ E@H? 7@C EC277:4 4@?EC@=k^2mk^Am
kAm|4s@?2=5 C2? E@ 9:D @H? 9@FD6[ >2J36 2 3=@4< 2H2J[ 2?5 8C23365 2 D9@G6=[ E96? DAC:?E65 324< 2?5 DE2CE65 5:88:?8] w6 @A6?65 E96 5@@CD 6?@F89 7@C 6G6CJ@?6 E@ 6I:E 2?5 4=:>3 :?E@ 9:D G69:4=6 – H9:49 AC@>AE=J 8@E :>A@DD:3=J DEF4<]k^Am
kAm%96J 4@?E:?F65 @? 7@@E] |4s@?2=5 HC2AA65 9:D 2C> 2C@F?5 E96 >@E96C 2?5 E96 =:EE=6 3@J[ 3C24:?8 E96> 282:?DE 9FCC:42?6\7@C46 H:?5D F?E:= E96J C624965 E96 DE2E:@?]k^Am
kAm%96 72>:=J[ 7C@> }@CE9 r2C@=:?2[ H2D 8@:?8 E@ }:282C2 u2==D] ~?=J E96 8C2?572E96C DA@<6 t?8=:D9[ 2?5 96 E@=5 |4s@?2=5 E96 EC2G6=6CD 925 ?@E 962C5 2?J H2C?:?8D 23@FE E96 DE@C>[ A@DD:3=J 3642FD6 @7 E96 =2?8F286 32CC:6C]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^g7ffhah2\ge_`\``65\3bd3\27b2656e5f5gQmp C62=\=:76 r9C:DE>2D 2?86= D2G6D 2 =:76 2?5 8:G6D (}* 2 C62D@? E@ D>:=6k^2mk^Am
kAm“%96D6 H6C6 2A@42=JAE:4 4@?5:E:@?D[” |4s@?2=5 D2:5[ E9:?<:?8 @7 H:?5D9:6=5 H:A6CD E92E 3C@<6 @77 =:<6 EH:8D :? E96 H:?5 2?5 :46[ “2?5 :E D66>65 =:<6 2?JE9:?8 E92E 4@F=5 8@ HC@?8[ 5:5 8@ HC@?8]”k^Am
kAm|4s@?2=5 :D 2 =:G:?8 E@F49DE@?6 7@C H9J !@=:46 r@>>:DD:@?6C y@D6A9 vC2>28=:2 56D4C:365 a_aa 2D 2 J62C @7 Q56G2DE2E:@?Q 7@C E96 A6@A=6 @7 qF772=@[ 2D Q2 J62C E@ C6>6>36C 2?5 2 J62C E@ 7@C86E]Qk^Am
kAmx? |2J[ |4s@?2=5 925 A=2??65 E@ 8@ E@ 9:D =:EE=6 3@J’D J@FE9 7@@E32== 82>6 @? 2 $2EFC52J[ 3FE E96 49:=5 – E96 52J 367@C6 – EH:DE65 9:D 2?<=6]k^Am
kAm$:?46 9:D <:5 4@F=5?’E A=2J[ |4s@?2=5 G@=F?E66C65 7@C 2 D9:7E @? |2J `c] w6 H2D @?6 @7 E96 7:CDE @77:46CD E@ C6DA@?5 27E6C 2 4@?76DD65 C24:DE >FC56C6C <:==65 `_ A6@A=6 2E %@AD |2C<6ED @? y6776CD@? pG6?F6]k^Am
kAm|4s@?2=5 925 ;FDE 4=:>365 @FE @7 9:D A2EC@= G69:4=6 H96? 96 D2H E96 <:==6C =@H6C 9:D 8F?[ 4@?7C@?E65 3J A@=:46[ 2?5 :E H2D |4s@?2=5 – DFCC@F?565 3J :>286D E92E 2C6 D62C65 :?E@ 9:D >:?5 – H9@ >@G65 E@H2C5 E96 8F?>2? 2?5 AFE @? E96 4F77D] (:E9 E9C66 76==@H @77:46CD[ 96 H@F=5 C646:G6 E96 56A2CE>6?E2= |652= @7 w@?@C]k^Am
kAm%96 @?=J 8=:>>6C @7 =:89E 96 4@F=5 7:?5 27E6C D@ >F49 =@DE E92E 52J E@ C2H 92EC65 H2D 2? @FEA@FC:?8 @7 4:G:4 =@G6 7@C `_ 72>:=:6D AFE E9C@F89 DF49 28@?J] x? 2 H2J[ |4s@?2=5VD A2:?65 C67=64E:@? :D D:>:=2C 32C6=J D6G6? >@?E9D =2E6C[ 27E6C 2 3=:KK2C5 @7 9:DE@C:42==J =6E92= :?E6?D:EJ]k^Am
kAmpE 2 E:>6 @7 6IEC6>6D[ 96 <66AD C6>:?5:?8 9:>D6=7 @7 ?@3=6 3692G:@C]k^Am
kAm“%@AD H2D 2 ?:89E>2C6[” 96 D2:5] “%9:D H2D 2 5:776C6?E <:?5 @7 ?:89E>2C6] p?5 E96 @?=J E9:?8 J@F 42? E2<6 @FE @7 :E[ H96? E96J’C6 3@E9 5@?6[ :D 9@H A6@A=6 D66 E96 H@CDE 2?5 D@>69@H AF== E@86E96C]”k^Am
kAmvC2>28=:2 DA@<6 |@?52J @7 9:D 8C2E:EF56 2E 2 56A2CE>6?E2= C6DA@?D6 E92E 3@:=65 5@H? E@ 4@FC286 2?5 Q92C5[ 8C:?5:?8 H@C<]Q |4s@?2=5 @776C65 E9:D 6I2>A=6ik^Am
kAmp 8@@5 7C:6?5 2E p s:DEC:4E[ {E] p?5J $962[ EC:65 E@ ;@FC?6J uC:52J[ H:E9 D@>6 @77:46CD[ E@ 96=A 4:G:=:2?D DEC2?565 2=@?8 $6?642 $EC66E] %96J >256 2 4@FA=6 @7 C6D4F6D[ 3FE E96 H2J 324< H2D 4FE @77 3J H:?5 2?5 D?@H]k^Am
kAm|4s@?2=5 D2:5 9:D 7C:6?5D >256 :E E@ 2 4:EJ AF3=:4 H@C<D 3F:=5:?8[ H96C6 E96J H6C6 DEF4< 7@C b_ 9@FCD :? 2 3@:=6C C@@>] (@CC:65 D:4< 23@FE 2? @77:46C EC2AA65 ?62C E96 $<JH2J[ 2?5 2:565 3J 2 4:G:=:2? 962GJ 6BF:A>6?E @A6C2E@C ?2>65 y@6 wF>>6= – 96 ?66565 C67F86 27E6C 96=A:?8 2 9FD32?5 2?5 H:76[ 6:89E >@?E9D AC68?2?E[ 6D42A6 7C@> 2 EC2AA65 42C – E96 8C@FA Q4@>>2?566C65Q D@>6 4:EJ A=@HD 2?5 324<9@6D[ E96? 3FCDE :?E@ E96 DEC66E]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^a`c``4a_\gdd`\``65\23bb\6be4ed735g`fQmq2C36CD9@A 364@>6D 3=:KK2C5 D96=E6Ci V!6@A=6 E@=5 >6 x D2G65 E96:C =:76Vk^2mk^Am
kAmwF>>6= DEF4< 2C@F?5 E96 A@=:46 DE2E:@? 7@C 2 =@?8 E:>6 E@ 96=A @FE[ FD:?8 2 324<9@6 E@ 5:8 @FE A2EC@= G69:4=6D H65865 :? 3J D?@H 2?5 5C:7ED[ 7C@> E96 3=:KK2C5] k^Am
kAm“%96D6 H:?5D[” |4s@?2=5 D2:5] “p?5J 42==65 E96> E96 ‘56G:=’D D?@H[’ 3642FD6 E96J D?2E4965 E96 3C62E9 C:89E @FE @7 J@FC >@FE9]”k^Am
kAm$962[ |4s@?2=5 D2:5[ 925 8@@5 C62D@? E@ 36 H@CC:65 H9:=6 DEF4< :?D:56 E92E 3F:=5:?8] %H@ @77:46CD – s6H2J?6 #2J6 2?5 }:4< |28C6EE2 – 925 366? D6?E E@ %:77E $EC66E 2?5 v2?D@? $EC66E[ E@ >2<6 DFC6 ?@ >@E@C:DED H6?E 2?JH96C6 ?62C E96 $<JH2J C2>AD] qJ =2E6 uC:52J 27E6C?@@?[ |4s@?2=5 E@=5 E96> E@ C6EFC? E@ E96 DE2E:@?]k^Am
kAm%96:C G69:4=6D H6C6 EC2AA65[ 2?5 D@ H6C6 E96J] (96? #2J6 C25:@65 E92E 96 H@F=5 H2=<[ |4s@?2=5 42==65 9:> 2?5 D2:5i s@?’E 5@ :E] $E2J :?D:56 J@FC 42C] #F? E96 6?8:?6 @? 2?5 @77 7@C H2C>E9[ 3FE ECJ ?@E E@ FD6 2== J@FC 7F6=]k^Am
kAmq@E9 @77:46CD DA6?E E96 ?:89E :? E96:C G69:4=6D] &A52E6D 23@FE E96:C D:EF2E:@?[ @G6C 5:DA2E49[ 42FD65 8C@H:?8 H@CCJ E9C@F89@FE E96 56A2CE>6?E – 6DA64:2==J H96? 2? 2EE6>AE65 C6D4F6 7C@> E96 D@FE9[ 3J w2>3FC8 E@H? A@=:46[ 4@F=5 ?@E 86E E9C@F89]k^Am
kAm#2J6 7:?2==J >256 :E @FE[ |4s@?2=5 D2:5[ H96? 96 D2H 2 9:89\=:7E ECF4< AFD9:?8 E9C@F89 D?@H ?@E 72C 2H2J[ 2?5 >2?2865 E@ C6249 :E] pD 7@C |28C6EE2[ 96 925 72>:=J :? E96 ?6:893@C9@@5] ~?46 E96 DE@C> C6=6?E65 2 3:E[ 96 H2D 23=6 E@ H2=< 72C 6?@F89 E@ 7:?5 D276EJ H:E9 2? F?4=6]k^Am
kAmp 4:G:=:2?[ z2E:6 |:=<D[ H2D 92?5=:?8 A@=:46 5:DA2E49] (96? D96 =62C?65 #2J6 H2D D276[ D96 2??@F?465[ G@:46 4C24<:?8i Q$<JH2J EH@ :D 9@>6]Qk^Am
kAm|4s@?2=5 H:== C6>6>36C E9@D6 H@C5D[ =@?8 27E6C E96 DE@C>]k^Am
kAm%96 3=:KK2C5 562E9 E@== 925 4=:>365 3J %F6D52J E@ bb[ H:E9 ag @7 E9@D6 H@>6? 2?5 >6? 5J:?8 :? qF772=@] |4s@?2=5 D2:5 :E :D :>A@DD:3=6 E@ 56D4C:36 E96 D:4<6?:?8 7CFDEC2E:@? H96? 56DA6C2E6 A6@A=6 42== 7@C 96=A 2?5 E96C6 :D ?@ H2J E@ 86E E@ E96>]k^Am
kAm*6E 7@C E96 D64@?5 E:>6 E9:D J62C[ DFCC@F?565 282:? 3J F?:>28:?23=6 DF776C:?8 :? 9:D 4:EJ[ 96 EC:65 E@ =@@< E@H2C5 2 C6DA@?D6 @7 D6=7=6DD?6DD 2?5 5646?4J]k^Am
kAm%96 C@25D :? $@FE9 qF772=@ H6C6 3FC:65 H:E9 5C:7ED 2?5 4=FEE6C65 H:E9 232?5@?65 G69:4=6D[ 2?5 |4s@?2=5 D2:5 :E H2D :>A@DD:3=6 – H:E9 EC25:E:@?2= 6BF:A>6?E – 7@C @77:46CD E@ C6249 >2?J @7 E9@D6 H9@ ?66565 E96> E96 >@DE]k^Am
kAmq67@C6 =@?8[ E96J C646:G65 F?6IA64E65 C6:?7@C46>6?ED] r:G:=:2? D?@H>@3:=6CD DE2CE65 2CC:G:?8[ “2 H2G6 @7 E96D6 8FJD 7C@> $AC:?8G:==6 2?5 v@H2?52 2?5 uC65@?:2 2?5 D@>6 A=246D H96C6 x 5@?’E 6G6? <?@H 6I24E=J H96C6 E96J 2C6[ =:<6 $96C>2?[” |4s@?2=5 D2:5]k^Am
kAm$?@H>@3:=6D 4@F=5 8@ H96C6 A@=:46 @? 7@@E 4@F=5 ?@E[ H9:49 =65 E@ E96 C6D@=FE:@? @7 >2?J 56DA6C2E6 D:EF2E:@?D] %96 G@=F?E66CD 2=D@ E:65 A=2DE:4 >2C<6CD 2C@F?5 >:CC@CD @? 6>AEJ G69:4=6D[ D@ A@=:46 5:5 ?@E 92G6 E@ 4964< E96> 282:? 7@C A2DD6?86CD]k^Am
kAm%96C6 2C6 A6@A=6 2=:G6 3642FD6 @7 D?@H>@3:=6CD[ |4s@?2=5 D2:5] w6 92D 4@?E24E ?F>36CD 7@C E96D6 C6D4F6CD :? 2 ;F>3=6 @7 ?@E6D @? 9:D 56D<[ 2?5 96 9@A6D E@ D@>652J 7:?5 2 36EE6C H2J @7 D2J:?8 E92?<D[ 3FE 7@C ?@H 96 H:== 5@ 9:D 36DE 96C6ik^Am
kAm“*@F =@@< 2E E9:D[ 2?5 J@F’G6 8@E A6@A=6 H9@ H6C6 ;FDE y@9? "] p?J3@5J[ 2?5 E96J 8@E @? E96:C D?@H>@3:=6D 2?5 =67E E96:C 72>:=:6D @? r9C:DE>2D H66<6?5 D@ E96J 4@F=5 96=A A6@A=6 E96J ?6G6C >6E[ :? E9:D DE@C>]”k^Am
kAm|4s@?2=5 2=D@ DA@<6 @7 9@H 9:D >@E96C 2?5 DE6A72E96C[ z2E9=66? |4s@?2=5 2?5 uC65 +:>>6C>2?[ 2?5 D@>6 $@FE9 qF772=@ ?6:893@CD[ %@?J 2?5 p??6 |2<@HD<:[ E@@< 7@@5 D6E 2D:56 7@C r9C:DE>2D 5:??6CD[ 4@@<65 :E 2?5 AC@G:565 :E 7@C E9@D6 DEC2?565 2E E96 DE2E:@?] $962VD >@E96C[ 96 D2:5[ D6?E @G6C 2 92>] p?5 96 D2:5 E92E 2 4@FA=6 @7 ?6:893@C9@@5 C6DE2FC2?E @H?6CD @A6?65 E96:C <:E496?D D:>A=J E@ AC@G:56 >62=D]k^Am
kAmpE `ib_ 2]>] |@?52J[ |4s@?2=5 7@C>2==J 3682? 2 G242E:@? E92E H@F=5 =2DE =6DD E92? 2 52J[ H96? 96 282:? 49@D6 E@ 8@ 324< E@ H@C<] w6 H2=<65 E9C@F89 566A D?@H E@H2C5 9:D 9@FD6[ H96C6 9:D 8:C=7C:6?5[ r9C:DE2 s:u:8=:2[ @A6?65 E96 5@@C 2?5 E96:C 5@8D C2? @FE E@ 8C66E 9:>]k^Am
kAm|4s@?2=5 D9@F=5 92G6 366? 6I92FDE65[ 3FE 2D 96 D6EE=65 :?E@ E96 =:G:?8 C@@> – r9C:DE>2D 8:7ED 7@C 9:D <:5D F?56C E96 EC66[ DE:== H2:E:?8 E@ 36 56=:G6C65 – 9:D =2DE D9:7E 5FC:?8 E96 3=:KK2C5 @7 a_aa 6?565 :? E96 @?=J H2J E92E >256 D6?D6[ 27E6C E9:D J62C :? qF772=@]k^Am
kAmw6 4@F=5 ?@E D=66A]k^Am
Sean Kirst is a columnist with The Buffalo News. Email him at skirst@buffnews.com.
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter.
