Letter from the Man Who Hit Me
Dear
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Flynn
January 14, 2008
On
July 22, 2007 an accident accrued on Rt 4 involving Mr. Flynn and I. It was a
complete accident. I know Mr. Flynn was badly injured. I cannot apologize enough
to you and your family. I was not drinking nor on drugs or anything that
evening. My fiancée, a buddy of mine, and I were visiting Cedar Point that day
for my fiancée’s birthday. My fiancée was tired on the way back so I decided
to take the wheel just outside of Attica. I had no intention of driving either.
I ended up falling asleep. The vehicle I was driving was mine. The yellow tags
on the vehicle were not because of a drinking problem. I barely ever party but
one night last February I got a DUI. The tags were put on my vehicle because of
the DUI. I made a huge mistake that night of the accident. I put my life, my
fiancée’s life, my buddy’s life, and more important your life in jeopardy
that evening. It was the worst thing I have ever seen. When I ran up to your
vehicle, all I wanted to do was help you in any way. I ask you if you needed
help or wanted to be more comfortable and you replied “yes.” I did
everything I could before the squad arrived. In all meanings I believe
everything happens for a reason. Not for us to get hurt but to say God was
calling that night. I believe he was telling me to quit making bad decisions.
You being a Preacher named Ralph is a big “WOW!” too. I feel he sacrificed
your life to make that point. We are lucky you are alive.
I
read your article on the web about the insurance policies. I agree fully on that
case. I didn’t ever know my policy was that low until the accident. Being a
young man not really checking how much my policy went to but really thought full
coverage was $50,000 to $100,000 coverage. I think the minimum coverage is low
and really it is like not having insurance at all. And again I cannot apologize
enough for what happened and everything you and your family had to go through.
Now
after this accident my life has changed. The past 8 months I have been riding a
bike to and from work and school. The worst thing about that is the weather. I
started school at OSU Marion, which has so far been good. I just bought a house
and my daughter just turned 4 years old. Now after all of that I find out Ohio
is trying to put me in prison for 1 year. I know I screwed up and it will
probably haunt me for the rest of my life but prison for me isn’t what I
thought was going to happen. I thought jail time and probation was going to be
slapped on me but I was wrong. I am a good guy who made a bad discussion. I ask
for forgiveness from you and your family. I hope that forgiveness helps me get
though this hole in my life.
Sincerely,
Ralph Cirillo III