Lesson Was Not to Drink, Drive

To The Editor:

I recently read a letter from Matthew Elbert in regards to the Massmann/Mooney accident that occurred May 5, 2002, in which Patricia Mooney was killed.

Mr. Elbert was upset because The Missourian only told the “negative” side of that story and that for the last 10 years before his passing, Mr. Massmann actually helped people that had problems with alcohol.

Well, for the last 10 years that he was doing that, Patricia Mooney missed out on the births of two additional grandchildren. She didn’t get to see her son graduate from high school or to be there on his wedding day. She didn’t get to see her daughter grow into a wonderful mother with two kids of her own or get to play with her son’s son. She will not have the opportunity to watch any of them grow up to be the people that they are destined to be. She was killed, and missed out on the last 10 years altogether.

I know that there are two sides to every story, but Pat didn’t get to finish her story. Her life story was cut short by a drunk driver. She was taken from her two children, her mom and dad, brother, aunts, uncles, nephews and friends, while Mr. Massmann was able to finish his.

I don’t think the story you printed was a negative story. It is a true story about an accident and that is the negative story. It’s negative because Mr. Massmann chose to drink and drive, Patricia Mooney was killed and left her family to grieve her death.

Although Mr. Massmann may have helped others with their alcohol problems, (and that is to be commended), it doesn’t erase the impact the accident had on her family and friends, for them it was never in the past. They grieve their loss every day and have for the last 10 years.

The lesson that Mr. Massmann has taught us all is not to drink and drive.