A week’s worth of tragedy should be a wake-up call

Five lives were ruined in the course of 24 hours and all signs point

to drunken driving as the root of the problem.

Andre Felipe De Oliveira Braga died after being hit by a black

Mitsubishi Eclipse while crossing the road.

John Garazulis was with him and is now faced with the possibility

of permanent paralysis and brain damage.

Pawel Stanislaw Wiater, the alleged driver of the Eclipse, now

faces charges of drunken driving and vehicular manslaughter.

Montgomery Evan Burten was pinned beneath his friend’s Chevrolet

Tahoe after a collision.

William Bunnet, the driver and friend of Burten’s, was arrested on

suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.

One can only fathom the grief of the Braga family; the courage of

Garazuli as he learns to cope with paralysis; the anguish in causing

great bodily harm to a close friend; the agony of taking another

person’s life; or the fear of serving jail time.

To know this immeasurable pain was likely brought about by a few

swigs of liquor combined with the turning of a key in the ignition is

unacceptable.

It is well known that the Newport-Mesa area serves as a playground

for its residents and neighbors. Costa Mesa has a well known bar

scene, spanning Newport Boulevard and curving east, to 17th Street.

Within this two-mile stretch, there are eight popular bars -- not

counting all the others off the beaten path.

Just down the road, where Newport Boulevard turns into Balboa

Boulevard, there are countless bars and restaurants, which serve

alcohol and draw a measurable nighttime crowd.

Seeing as how the Newport-Mesa community has a history of service,

cooperation and civic duty, it seems the perfect place to implement

programs such as complimentary soft drinks to designated drivers,

free shuttle services for those who have had one too many, overnight

parking -- without the fear of being towed, increased police patrol

or checkpoints and a renewed passion to educate the population about

the dangers of not only driving after a few drinks but riding in the

car with someone who has.

Too often it takes a tragedy -- and in this case a series of

tragedies -- to serve as a catalyst for progress. In the wake of

these events, lets move forward as a community to make sure we can

save others from that pain.