Sammy Curtis Garner

12/8/1980 to 8/21/1999

Sam's Last Day

(As told by his mother)

It was a hot August day, Friday, August 20,1999.  Sam worked that day out at his dad's shop, excited that a large group of his friends were having a big bonfire back-to-school party for all the friends who had one more year of school left.  Sam had graduated 6 weeks earlier. Most had graduated with Sam, but many had one more year to go. So this was going to be the party of the year, back in the country at a pond where their loud music wouldn't disturb anyone. Sam and his best friend Anson had made several trips out to pick up people who needed a ride. Then around 11:00 p.m. they had just gotten back from picking up some friends when someone said ”we need to go to Patriot Park and meet the rest of the people to let them follow us in because they can't find us.”

So Sam, Anson and Barbara said they would go meet them. Sam had a pick up truck he had just bought 2 weeks before, so they were going to go in a friend’s car. But Jared spoke up and said, "No, we can all go in my Blazer.  I have the room”. One of the girls spoke up and said, "No, I will drive my car.”  She knew Jared was drunk and wasted when he arrived the minute they were ready to leave. Jared all the while was climbing in his Blazer saying, “Come on, get in.  Besides, mine is behind and easier to get out.”  So unknowing the condition that Jared was in, they all piled in and off they went.

They made it to the park, met the others and headed back to the pond. About one mile from the pond they went off the road in about a 5-foot drop into a cow field after sideswiping a tree.  As they all climbed from the Blazer and walked away, Anson realized Sam wasn't with them. He yelled, “Come on Sam!  Stop fooling around!”  When Sam didn't answer he went to see why he was not answering. You see, Sam liked to kid around, and Anson thought he was kidding. When Anson got to the Blazer he was saying, “Come on now, Sam!  You’re scaring me!”  Still Sam didn't answer.  Anson climbed back into the overturned Blazer and pulled his best friend in the world out. When he had Sam out on the ground and saw all the blood, he started screaming, “Sam!  Please don't die!  Please don't be dead!  Sam's eyes were open, but Anson knew his best friend was dead, so he tried to close Sam's eyes.  They wouldn't close.  Anson was losing his grip, along with his best friend.

The following cars stopped after the crash.  Some stayed, but most left scared to death. Anson rocked Sam in his arms and talked to him, begging him not to be dead. Then he lay Sam down on the ground and curled up beside him.  When EMS arrived, they had to pull Anson away from his best friend, screaming and fighting them because he didn't want to leave Sam’s side. They pronounced Sam dead at 12:30AM, August 21,1999…dead on impact.

Anson told me that just 2 hours before Sam was killed, they were talking and out of the blue Sam said, “You know, Anson, I'm a Christian and I've been saved.  I'm not afraid of anything. ” Heartbroken and crying his heart out, Anson said, "I believe Sam knew something was going to happen”. I was so hurt and full of loss.  I had just lost my only son, but my heart broke a little more for Anson, Sam's best friend since diapers, who held Sam in his arms and begged him not to be dead. I knew my pain, and couldn't imagine Anson’s, knowing that boy would relive that moment for the rest of his life.

Sam dead, Anson and Barbara have nerve damage in their arms and legs and trauma from losing a best friend for life. The driver, Jared.... well he didn't have a scratch, and they said he couldn't even stand up when the cops got there. Too wasted and drunk. He was out on bond and home in bed before we knew our Sam was dead.

Jared got 10 months in the county jail for vehicular manslaughter, 5 years suspended license and 500 hours community service. To date, Jared has not spent but 29 days in jail.  His family has never called to see how I am doing or anything. They don't care.........they have a troubled son who stays in trouble and they always buy his way out.  Jared was 21 years old when he killed my son.

The story I have just told is what was told to me by Sam's best friend, Anson, and Barbara, who were there. But of course the drunk told a different story......He said Sam was drunk....but blood was taken from Sam and tested.... Sam Was NOT drunk, just as Anson had said.

So many lives changed when Sam was killed.  The ones who were still at the pond found out about Sam from the ones who hadn’t run off. They went back to the pond and told the others. Rage broke out.  They trashed the place, breaking windows out of the motor home that was there and on the grounds.

For days after Sam's death, Jared got death threats from Sam's friends. We were told Jared was afraid to leave the house for awhile. Did Jared regret what he did?  Did he stop drinking and doing drugs?  Not according to reports from some of Sam's friends, who have seen him drunk on his butt, as they put it.

THINK ABOUT IT.  IS IT WORTH A LITTLE FUN, AT THE EXPENSE OF A FRIEND’S LIFE?     I THINK NOT!

I do know one thing.  I know where my Sam is, and that I will one day join him. Thank GOD for our Salvation and Christianity.  If you don't know Jesus, YOU SHOULD!

                    Nancie White

                    Sam's Mom

                    Email: walkinbeauty@hotmail.com

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                                                                                                   "I Cry..."

I cry not for you, but I cry for us.
I cry not because you are gone from us, but because you left us behind.
I cry because I don't know the beauty and love that you feel and see.
I cry not because I think your sad, but because we are sad.
I cry not because the love is gone, but I cry because our love for you is so strong.
I cry for us because we weren't ready to give you up.
I cry not because you're not here with us, but that we are not there with you.
I cry not that your beautiful soul was lifted up to Heaven.
I cry because you left us here on Earth, so full of emptiness without you.
I cry for all of those who loved you so dearly.
I cry not for where you are, but for where we are and that we are not with you.
Every teardrop that falls are tears of joy and of gladness that you were such a wonderful part of our lives.
I cry because we are not with you to experience the beauty and splendor of a place so wonderful and simply perfect.

Poem by: Nancie White (MOM)

Until we meet again my dear sweet Sam, you'll always be in our hearts and thoughts. We all Love you and Miss you so much. We will all be together again one day and knowing that gets us through each new day.

Our family has suffered a very tragic loss.  We hope that we can send a message to everyone about Drinking and Driving. If you love someone, always tell them.  You never know when your last opportunity will be. And never let someone you know Drink and Drive. Take the keys from them. At least they'll be able to thank you the next day!!

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