Some days it’s difficult to believe there’s justice in the world.

Sure, maybe after reading Thursday’s story about Ryan Sundermann, I should at least have more faith in our legal system. After all, he was sentenced to six years with the Department of Corrections instead of the recommended probation and community service.

This for a man whose chronic alcohol problems and intoxicated driving resulted in the vehicular death of 3-year-old Abrielle Neff last year.

The family of Abrielle Neff was spared a lengthy trial, which is what they wanted. The matter has already taken more than a year just to get to this point.

Also, the family was awarded more than $3.5 million in a civil suit against Sundermann. Maybe not as much as they asked for in the $9 million filing, but still a pretty hefty sum.

If this story was being portrayed on one of my television shows, you’d key in the music and everything would end happy. Reality, however, is much more depressing.

Abrielle’s mother, Brenda, reminded us this week that there is no true justice in the world. As she said, she and her family were given a life sentence of pain and sadness to remember the events that led up to the death her daughter.

“Ryan Sundermann gets a six year sentence. We get a life sentence without Abrielle,” Brenda said.

(Anyone wishing to read Brenda’s court statement can go to: www.maryvilledailyforum.com/homepage/x1470892480.)

But the most difficult will be how the family and this community move on from here. My fear is that life for us will go on while Abrielle and the circumstances of her death will become a distant memory.

If the above statement upsets you, it should. We have a tendency to get upset for a second about something and then just as quickly toss those concerns out like old newspapers.

So let’s be angry together.

Let’s be angry that from 1982 to 2006, between 41 and 55 percent of total vehicular fatalities in Missouri were alcohol related. Between 34 and 51 percent of drivers in those alcohol-related accidents had a .08 blood alcohol content or more.

Despite Sundermann’s repeat history with driving while intoxicated and other violations, he was still able to get behind the wheel and kill an innocent 3 year old and cause permanent emotional injury to an entire family. Sundermann wasn’t the first and he likely won’t be the last.

Let’s be angry.

Across the nation, which includes little ol’ innocent Nodaway County, teens are having easy access to alcohol and are being hurt by it. In some cases, area parents are even adding to the problem by supplying and condoning underage drinking. Law enforcement is doing its best, and yet it continues to be a growing problem our officers and deputies can’t combat on their own.

But while we’re getting angry about this issue, we’re distracted by other important issues, such as gas prices, flooding, Angelina Jolie and something about a presidential race or whatnot.

Oh, and is there a war going on still?

And before you know it, DUI offenders and underage drinking is just something we’ll deal with later. You know, maybe the next time a family is ripped apart by the death of their loved one killed by a drunk driver.

Meanwhile, I consider Brenda my hero. And the rest of the family has my deepest respect and sympathies. Throughout this heart-wrenching legal process, they’ve opened themselves to the community and even kicked off a community event in Abrielle’s name.

And throughout their suffering, they’ve given us a gift. They opened themselves to us so that we could support them while coming to terms with the tragedy ourselves.
The least we can all now do is make a promise to them and to ourselves that we will not forget Abrielle Neff. Nor will we forget that a drunk driver took her from us and that her death could’ve been prevented –– in part by all of us.

Alcohol problems start very small, whether it be underage drinking, helping minors get alcohol or not stopping our friends or loved ones from getting behind the wheel.
It might seem like no big deal for some teens to drink socially, especially as long as an adult is present to supervise.

And how many times have people in our community thought they felt fine to get behind the wheel despite having a few drinks –– even when maybe they shouldn’t.

And if I’m honest with myself, I can look back and say, yes, maybe I shouldn’t have driven at times and thank God while I’m at it I’ve never hurt myself or others. We all make mistakes.

Now tell that to the Neffs.

Abrielle’s family has done their part, now, as a community, let’s do ours and try to heal following the death of one of our own.

It really is the least we can do.The least we can do