The automobile in which four men lost their young lives also held a girl of 15 – after several surgeries, she sleeps in induced coma.
That night, this car was not supposed to ride
12th November 2013, 17:43
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The tragic Saturday morning accident, with youth from Haapsalu, at Herjava, Lääne County, does make those closest ask: why? «That night, this car was not supposed to ride at all,» Mom and Dad of Madis (23), the driver, sighed at the accident site yesterday afternoon.
The mother is lighting what is left of the candles. The father keeps collecting the ones with flames gone out. A feeble business, to fill up time and chase off thoughts. Despite everything, they stand ready to try and share some of their sorrow, realising the grief felt by them and parents-friends of the other three has touched the nation. Not only the stricken Haapsalu – all youth, all Estonia over, will have things to think over. As well as their parents.
«Life is hard. Unjust,» says the father. As, in reality, his son was already home that night. Having told his friends he’d be off to bed. The partying Friday extending into Saturday, somebody gave Madis a call. Who, we do not know right now. Usually, as somebody rung, the young man did go.
«Helpful, that boy,» says the mother. In a tragedy defying understanding, blaming anybody won’t help. «No culprits here, pure bad luck,» thinks the father.
Madis was a rally racer. A season just behind him, grand plans had been dreamed up for the one to come – says the father. Just a while ago, his son had purchased a BMW; even so, it needed tinkering. And, that fateful Friday night, the car was not supposed to be in driving condition yet.
«That evening, that night, this car was not supposed to move at all,» the father says. The needed part waiting in Tallinn, Madis had been there to fetch it. While on their way back, with mother, a deer leaped onto the road in front of them. The car jerked to the left, avoiding a truck in opposite lane.
«A sad string of events. That wasn’t too dangerous, still a warning sign somehow,» says the mother. «What do you say ...»
While we stand talking, the father of the lady of 15 has arrived. To him, all cars make way. The man proceeds to also light a candle, to accompany dozens of others, and express his condolences.
The fathers know one another, having once been schoolmates. Moments fly by, heavy with loss of one family, and hopes of another. Need to wait, says father of the girl, folding his hands to pray before leaving. Hospitalised, the girl is in a critical condition. Three surgeries behind her, she’s being kept in induced coma.
The four young men, one from children’s home, had been friends. All had worked at the nearby coal factory called OÜ Nap (like taking a ‘nap’, in English) Konsult.
«The driver was an excellent racer. And the girl... A nice one, so pretty...» says a young lady, on her way to also light candles, pushing a pram and accompanied by another woman, a friend. «The entire Haapsalu is in shock – who could explain this. Yes, I also saw them partying in the night, but what brought them here in the early hours? My God, how sad.»
As a rule, the eatery whence the youths darted onto the dark highway, is usually open around the clock. Yesterday, its doors were closed.
«Why does it have to be open like that, for 24 hours? Like a trap,» utters a man in Russian. On his way to Haapsalu, he has pulled over and stands staring on the path ploughed into the roadside by the heavy truck involved in the accident.
«Sure no one can ban such places; even so, they ought to have the decency to forbid alcohol in these. For, in their folly, that’s what people come to get. What a bane for the parents...»
Recalling his dangerous travels on Estonian roads, the man sighs at the memory of young daredevils, their need for speed. «Haapsalu is a small place, and such a tragedy,» says the man, lighting a cigarette.
Not really knowing the youth and their parents, he is in tears of compassion. An experienced driver, the man surveys the junction, thinking: visibility’s great, quite an open space. What must have been the speed? What would have interfered with a safe turn onto the highway? Sure, it is dark right now. Even so, the headlights of the big car should have blinded them, turn them aside from the mortal clash. Why?!