Deadly Driving Lesson For Dad

Father Killed While Teaching Teenage Daughter To Drive

(AP)  Police say a father was teaching his teenage daughter how to drive when she lost control of the pickup truck and her father was killed.

It happened on Highway 58, near Dexter Lake, just outside of Eugene on Tuesday afternoon.

Investigators are trying to determine if the girl and her father were wearing seatbelts.

Police say 54-year-old Daniel Kirkland of Pleasant Hill died at the scene. Seventeen-year-old Rachael Kirkland was not seriously injured.

An Oregon State Police trooper said it appears the pickup left the roadway, the teen tried to correct and get back on the road, but lost control. Witnesses say the vehicle rolled at least once and then struck a tree.

Police say Rachael Kirkland has a valid learner's permit.

[wilywil1]

YES,THIS IS HORRIBLE AND I CAN'T IMAGINE THE HUT AND PAIN THE FAMILY IS GOING THROUGH.
I HAVE A 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. I TOO AM TEACHING HER HOW TO DRIVE. BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THE DRIVING SCHOOL WON'T HE ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN I CAN.I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 20 YEARS NOW AND HAVE SEEN MANY ACCIDENTS, DRIVING IS AL ABOUT COMMEN SENSE. IT'S NOT ABOUT HOW MUCH EXPERIENCE ONE HAS.
I WILL BE THE ONE TEACHING MY DAUGHTER HOW TO DRIVE... NOT SOME SCHOOL. THINGS HAPPEN WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT....
MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYS ARE WITH THE FAMILY,
AND MY HEART GOES OUT TO THIS LITTLE GIRL.

[zerasuki]

My mother and I have to go now so that we can make a few more arrangements. Once more though, thank you to those who gave your kind thoughts and your prayers. Its good to know that some people even outside our own small community can care about us in our time of need.

If anyone would like to email my mother or I this is the email to contact us at; [e-mail] . That will be the email address that any of you can send a nice email to or something along those lines. Please be respectful to us and any other family you ever hear go through this kind of event. Thats all I really have to say for the moment. Have a nice day.

Rachael Kirkland

[zerasuki]

If you say something then mean it. If you love someone then tell them and tell them frequently in more than one way. If you want to say something make sure you are thinking about all who might view it. Most of you may think we would have never found this, but guess what.. if you can't say something like fallngempire's comment to my face, and I am pretty sure this person couldn't, then don't say it at all.

[zerasuki]

That kind of bullsnap isn't what I should have to be reading. The nightly news, the newspaper, the radio. All of the media seems to have this covered and you know the kinds of things I have to hear? Crud like that and like this "Deadly Driving Lesson For Dad" or "Teen Driver Loses Control, Father Loses His Life." It hurts that people try to make my tragedy into some stupid story just so they can make money. As far as I am aware the release of my name was never supposed to occur without my mother's consent. Not many people can ever understand what I am going through right now, not even my own family. Its hard for me to express everything that I am thinking and feeling right now, but I know this much.

[zerasuki]

First off, thank you to the kind support and prayers of all of you out there. All of this is much appriciated in this time.

Secondly, shame on you all who have had nothing but selfish comments and rude comments. It isn't your place to say such things as "Yes, this was The Lord's doing. You have to assume that automatically, because God is all knowing and all seeing and therefore anything bad/good/indifferent that happens in the world was the right thing to happen because He knows the end from the beginning and has a reason for all that happens.

It is this kind of ridiculous *** that will destroy the entire world someday. Mark my words.
Posted by fallngempire at 01:33 AM : Oct 26, 2006"

[zerasuki]

(this is gonna be chopped up *** you character limits)

Good morning/afternoon / night to those that read this... You are right when you say that I feel heartbroken. I feel like my whole heart was ripped out of my body. I was very close to my father. For the information of all the readers he and I were both wearing seatbelts. If I hadn't have been I most likely wouldn't be alive. I have the bruises to proove it. Most of you have figured who I am by now, but for those that haven't I am Rachael. I am the daughter you guys are all talking about.

[reads_a_lot]

How tragic!

By the way, I disagree with fallngempire because I do not believe this was the Lord's doing. Sad and terrible things happen.

[fallngempire]

Yes, this was The Lord's doing. You have to assume that automatically, because God is all knowing and all seeing and therefore anything bad/good/indifferent that happens in the world was the right thing to happen because He knows the end from the beginning and has a reason for all that happens.

It is this kind of ridiculous *** that will destroy the entire world someday. Mark my words.

[ljburnell]

The lord sure does work in mysterious ways,he
needed an angel in heaven,hopefully his griefstricken daughter will allow that thought to assuage her grief

[miffyblue]

Wow, this is the THIRD story I've read in 2 years about parents being killed while teaching their kids to drive. Makes me scared to ever let my own kids drive! I'll definitely send them to a driving school...at least the driving school cars often have a second set of brakes for the instructors. (Though in the other 2 cases I read about, I believe the parents were standing outside of the cars trying to direct the kids in parking or something like that, when the kids accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake or something like that.)

[cntrygrllst]

For cying out loud take it off the news and let this family and this little girl grieve in peace

[katt0809]

This is a terrible tragedy. I have been driving for about 12 years the first time I ran off the road and tried to correct it, of course I over did it because I was nervous, thanks God there was no other cars coming and I was able to regain control of my car without any incidents. I say that just to proof that what happened to her can happen to more experience drivers as well with the same horrible results. I know that if this would happen to me, I would like to let my daughter know that it was not her fault and it was just my time to leave, to not feel guilty and to always know that I loved her and that I was glad it was me and not her that got hurt, and to make sure that she made me proud by picking up the pieces, scoring this one to tragedy and making the best of her life, and this is my message for this young lady, be brave and make daddy proud.

[ajmystic]

My heart goes out to this family. I can only imagine the guilt this young girl will carry with her for the rest of her life. I hope this does not discourage her from ever driving again. It is a tragedy, but maybe it was just the father's time to go, regardless of where or when.

[sidni28139]

I have noticed that student drivers are put out on the roads right off the bat in the Carolina's.

I attended school in Oklahoma. We were not allowed on the roads until after two weeks of practice on a closed course. This gave us an opportunity to get used to a vehicles breaks, steering, etc., before putting ourselves and other drivers at risk on the streets.

[sandlin_k]

Can you imagine how this young girl must feel? I'm sure she is heartbroken. Many fathers don't take the time to teach daughters anything these days, and to have such a tragic incident when this one did is so sad.