End of Innocence
Jason Coker and Nicole Robinette, both 17, had put Blake Ranking in the back seat because he was drunk and acting “really loud and really goofy.” But while Robinette was driving down the road near Eustis, Fla., Ranking grabbed the wheel and caused a crash. He was “forced” to plead guilty to manslaughter while driving under the influence — his blood alcohol level of 0.185 percent was more than double the limit for adults — because he confessed he caused the crash in his online “blog” at Blurty.com, writing “I did it. It was me who caused it.... I turned the wheel that sent us off the road, into the concrete drain, and caused the car to flip seven times, ejecting Nicole and crushing Jason.” Jason Coker died several months later. Ranking, now 19, was sentenced to five years in prison, 10 years of probation, and a permanent license suspension. Also in his blog, he wailed, “WHY CAN’T EVERYTHING BE NORMAL AGAIN?” (Orlando Sentinel) ...Because you made an irreversible decision while drunk. Deal with it: everyone else has to.
Available in This is True: Book Collection Vol. 12