By Colter Hettich, Student Reporter

Two fatal automotive accidents in the ACU area remind students of the fragility of life and to drive with care.

Just after midnight on Oct. 18, Veronica Muhle, 37, slammed into a car as it pulled out onto East Highway 80 in front of her. The impact threw her from her motorcycle and, without a helmet to protect her, she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Five days later, a car ran a red light at the intersection of Ambler Avenue and Treadaway Boulevard. A northbound truck pulling a trailer collided with the car, throwing 42-year-old Jason Rene Walker into the street where the truck and trailer ran over his body, killing him instantly. The police recovered sealed alcohol containers from the car. Police are still waiting on blood test results to determine if anyone had been drinking.

Despite these recent accidents, statistics show Abilene drivers are improving each year. Only 3,434 wrecks have occurred this year, and the city of Abilene is on pace for 3,800 automotive accidents for 2007, a 5.15 percent decrease from 4,006 accidents in 2006.

Many recent developments, including Wal-Mart and The Grove, have contributed to a rise in traffic.

“Any time you open a development such as The Grove, traffic naturally increases,” said ACU Chief of Police Jimmy Ellison. “There has been a moderate increase in traffic, but it has been very manageable.”

Being very familiar with an area one drives through daily can betray drivers, Ellison said. Motorists should pay special attention to basic driving safety no matter what the situation. “One of the number one causes of minor accidents is driver inattention,” Chief Ellison said.

Sgt. Doug Wrenn of the Abilene Police Department’s Traffic Division could not stress the importance of seat belts enough. “No matter what, you need to wear your seat belt,” said Sgt. Wrenn. “Seat belts save lives.”