Injury accident

So McCookie, we can assume that your parents always knew what you were up to? Doubtful. Fact of the matter is, we were all kids once and we pulled stupid stunts too. The only difference is, we somehow lucked out and didn't end up in the hospital. There are three extremely fortunate families in McCook that get to hug their children for another day and I'd bet they're wondering how they could have prevented this and feel bad enough without some stranger critiqing their parenting skills. I'm sure Tanner, Moriah, Baylie learned a heck of a lesson, and with any luck, their peers did too.

Mccookie, my folks taught me well between right and wrong. They kept fairly close tabs on me as well. But didn't know all my goings on in high school. And as much as we'd like to put locator chips in our kids to know their every move, not going to happen. It's a part of growing up. Sometimes unfortunately some lessons are harder to learn than others. Thank God that these kids will hopefully heal and be ok. And hopefully not only them, but maybe some other kids will learn a lesson as well here. My prayers are with those kids and their families.

Let those without sin cast the first stone......................

Former McCookie,

I am the mother of a 25 year old daughter, a soon to be 20 year old son, and an 18 year old son. I wish I could stick my head in the sand and believe with all my heart that my kids were always where they told me they were or doing what they stated they would be doing. However, once being a teenager myself, I hold no illusions that there has ever been a teenager who did not break the rules. I know for a fact that Baylie asked to go for a ride and her parents knew where she was and what she was doing! It is very common for younger kids to be friends with upper classmen and enjoy the friendship they too can offer. What slays me is how there always has to be that one person who kicks people when they are down. Do you think for one minute that as parents we don't blame ourselves in one way or another for what happens to our children? Don't you think that Tanner, Moriah, and Baylie wish they could turn back the clock and undo what has been done? The truth of the matter is that we ALL make mistakes, some of course have higher consquences than others, but we hopefully learn from them. I love the Simmonds family with all my heart and for someone to say hurtful things to them when they are hurting enough, just angers me. Please do not sit in judgement for something you do not know about. I can speak only for the Simmonds and they are God loving, law abiding, wonderful people! They DO NOT deserve cruel words at this harrowing time in their lives. What they need is support, comfort, love, concern, and prayers! I love ya Baylie and family and I am with you in spirit always!

I am a grandmother who has raised 5 children. We always told our children when they left the house to " STAYGOLD " which met Be good be careful and have fun. They have passed this on to their children. Sometimes things happen.

Anyway: EVERYTHING WILL BE O'K

I wish people would know the facts before they start pointing fingers and pushing the blame on the parents, who are already suffering with the tragedy. Baylie will be 15 in 2 months. She is young for her grade. All of the kids are in the same class. ALL ARE FRESHMAN!!!!! Who are you to tell them that they aren't doing their job as parents FormerMccookie? I guarantee that your parents didn't know what you were doing all the time. They are all involved in after school activities by the way. These are not bad kids by any means. It was 5 PM. They weren't out drinking. They weren't out smoking pot. They weren't out causing mischief. There are a lot worse things that these kids could have been doing besides driving around and listening to music. Accidents happen. Know the facts before you start accusing and pointing the blame. I think if you are going to bad mouth someone you should atleast have the guts to say it to their face instead of anonymously writing in to the paper.

Jlake,

How can you possibly write what you did this morning without thinking about the words that you typed out? Do you really think that these kids were not affected by the reality of what happened to them, you notice I said, 'Happened to them', not you! I have a son who had a friend die in a wreck a couple of years ago. His buddy was on a dirt road and to this day my son despises having to drive on dirt/gravel roads. He was not even involved in the wreck. Let's give these kids a little more credit. They are not so dense that they do not know how lucky and blessed they were to survive the wreck. The circumstances could have been much more dire as we all know (the kids included), but they did make it out alive and if you happen to think for one moment that they didn't learn from it I feel so sorry for you. We have no clue whatsoever how this will affect Tanner, Moriah, or Baylie! What I do know is that people sometimes say things before they think and that is the sad thing about situations such as this. Until we know ALL the facts, the actuality of what happened, how those invloved feel, how it will change their lives, we cannot attempt to make predictions about "what they learned from this". Everyone deals with every event in their lives differently and can't we just say good, positive things that can help these kids rather than bring them down with negativity? I wonder if one of these kids were yours, would you still say things you have or would you choose your wording a little more carefully? I have just one more thing to add for this writing.....Thank you Lord for sending your angels to be with Tanner, Moriah, and Baylie and watching over them. I thank you for the life of each of these young people and celebrate the fact that they get to celebrate another day/month/year with their families!

You know farmerjoe you bring up a good point. Seat belts have saved lives, IN SOME CASES... Did you not see the car these kids were driving? I don't mean a picture. I mean literally see the car with your own eyes? I'm assuming not, because if you had seen it, you would know that if these kids would have been wearing seat belts, they wouldn't be here at all. That car is demolished and there is nothing left of that backseat or the back windshield where Baylie flew out of. Don't get me wrong seat belts can save lives, but sometimes, like in this circumstance, it was best they were all ejected.

I honest to God believe that, that is what saved those kids lives. Have you seen the kids or gone to visit them or sat but them in the hospital? As for reality not hitting them about life... its hit them harder since that wreck than ever before. The best thing that happened during that wreck was getting those kids out of that car. Thats the only thing that saved Baylie. Even EMS said that if she would have been restrained in the vehicle she wouldnt been here and neither would those other kids. None of those kids were run over by the vehicle either. Yes, seat belt are good in most circumstances but this one it was for the better.

I have to say that there are pros and cons for seat belt use. I don't think that 2COR57 is saying that one shouldn't wear a seatbelt. I think they are saying that in this instance, not wearing them is probably the only thing that allowed those kids to live. Maybe that is the reason they did not have their seat belts on...to save their lives. I have to believe there was a higher power that possibly, unbeknownst to the kids told them not to hook the belt that day. We could pick this story apart, over and over and we will all have our opinions and nothing will change that. We need to pull the good that comes from this story...Tanner, Moriah, and Baylie lived!! They get to continue on their paths to adulthood, go to college if they choose, get married, have children, and enjoy their families and friends. I am almost certain this changed three kids lives and possibly the lives of many who know them. Let's concentrate on the good and leave the bad just in our thoughts and not voice them.

That's exactly what I said.

They are all in the same class. I know them personally. The only reason that I had gotten involved is because people were degrading and judging the parents and I think it's crap that people hide behind a computer and anonymously critique other people's parenting skills when there are bigger issues at hand. If people are going to talk badly about the parents then they should have the gull to say it to their face. Matthew 7:1 says Judge not, that you not be judged. I had said that I BELIEVED that they lived because they weren't wearing seat belts. Did I start throwing out statistics? I witnessed these kids first hand in the hospital and I saw the miracle that was performed in those hospital beds. People are so hung up on trying to point the blame at everyone and everything else that they lose sight of what was really important and that those kids are still alive to tell about it.

I must say I agree with 2COR57. I am a firm believer that in SOME cases seatbelts hurt more than they help. I had a cousin that quite a few years ago was in a really bad rollover wreck and was ejected from his pickup and the emts said he was very lucky he wasn't wearing his seatbelt as if he was and was not ejected from his pickup he would have hung upside down for too long and would have died, and I myself have been in a really bad rollover accident on the interstate with my friend on our way to Lincoln to see another friend and I was ejected from the vehicle. My friend was wearing his seatbelt and was not ejected and he spent a week in ICU as I was in a regular hospital room and was released after 5 days and only had to stay 5 days to get therapy on my leg from surgery. Had I not been ejected I more than likely would have died and had I not died I would be permanently blind and disabled as the windshield landed in my seat in shards of glass and my side of the vehicle got the worse of the whole wreck. I now wear my seatbelt at all times even though I am a firm believer had I been wearing it at the time I would not be here. I do not know the kids personally but I have a brother and a cousin that are just a couple grades above them that do know them or know of them. I have seen the actual car and do believe that GOD was with them all the way and had them close to his heart. I have had all 3 kids in my thoughts and prayers since I have heard about the accident even though I do not personally know them. And I must say I agree with everyone else on the issue of its definitely not right to blame the parents for their kids going out with friends. It was early evening on a school night so why shouldn't they be able to go and hang out with friends. And it is not uncommon for 14yr olds to hang out with 16yr olds not everyone in the same grade is the same age although most are close in age but there are the occasional few that are 2 or even 3yrs apart from their classmates. I was 19 when I was in my accident so does that mean we should blame my dad who was at work and had no idea that I had even made plans to go to Lincoln with my friend? It may be easy for some people to point blame especially when you have no idea what is going on or have any of the details. I do not have all the details but I know enough to know that the only thing the parents could have done to prevent it was say no you can't have any friends and we are gonna lock you in your room. I see no harm in hanging out with friends at 5 in the evening when you are in high school! Accidents happen and yes some are more severe than others but they are just that...ACCIDENTS! No parent ever knows what their child is doing at all times when they are not home and nor will they ever but it still does not give you the right to judge the parents.

Very true kansasauntie.

Yes, it was an accident. Yes, it's OK for 14 year olds to hang out with 16 year olds. Yes, they were just driving around, having fun, BUT the judgement they displayed was wrong. There's one thing to just drive around having fun. It's another when that driving around is harmful, reckless and stupid. I also do pray for each and every one of these kids and their families. I also pray that they along with other kids have learned a lesson about the choices they make and how it will affect others...not just themselves.

I don't think it's an issue whether you choose to wear a seatbelt and helmet. The issue is just plain common sense. Maybe around town riding without both is fine, but in an accident as the speed of the vehicle increases the likelihood of serious injury increases. Just use common sense.

I've been privileged to know the Salyers since 1996 and grateful that Moriah's life was spared, as well as her friends. Our default is always to assign blame when we experience unfavorable circumstances. Blame never solves anything, it just exacerbates the situation. We want so much to protect the people that we love from hurt and pain but the reality is life and death happens around us everyday and no one is exempt or safe. But we know that God causes all things to work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purposes. I pray for each of the families for emotional, spiritual and physical healing, but especially for forgiveness. I spoke with Moriah today and make no mistake that she has learned a valuable lesson and is much closer to God now. The full extent of her injuries are not certain, but she is handling it well. My heart goes out to each family!