I will begin my statement by pointing out that none of the people posting comments online were there with us that evening, so do me a favor everyone, stop making all these assumptions and judgements that lead to us being drunk. Is it possible that the crash was caused by something like the 18-wheeler that was partially in our lane? Of course not, at least not to any of you who don't know anything besides "teenager+crash=alcohol." No one considered that maybe the Times Argus didn't get the full story since they only had two or three hours to get the story in Tuesdays paper. I am offended by some of the posts I read online about this article such as adults acting like they've never done anything wrong in their lives.

Let me tell everyone something. I sat in the Emergency Room until almost 8 a.m. before the doctors knew eveything about my condition (For the record: I have a broken cheek bone, two broken teeth, scrapes, cuts, burns all over my face and upper body, multiple lung contusions, sprained wrist and severe whiplash). Yet I sat there the whole time, not worrying about myself, but instead pestering the doctors and nurses about the condition of my friends.

When I finally heard that Caidin had passed away, I cried, and all I thought about was his family and how unfair I thought life was. I sat in CVH, for almost 36 hours, with friends coming in to visit me, but all I could think about was how unfair it was that people were coming to visit me and Caidin never had that opportunity.

Caidin was a nice, outgoing and smart young man with plenty of potential. This loss is hurting the Plainfield/Marshfield community and I hope everyone can see that this is a terrible tragedy. I hope people will stop throwing their opinions around without thinking how they would feel in the shoes of Caidin's family, friends and acquaintances.

Caidin McKeever will never be forgotten. I hope everyone sends their prayers to his family.

Kerry Monahan

Plainfield