The Man In the News

I read tragic articles about faceless people all the time:

A man who was pinned between two tractor-trailers Thursday night died two hours later from his injuries. Howard Mitchell, 55, of Clayton, Ala., was talking to another truck driver just before 5 p.m. at Wilco Truck Stop when an unattended truck began rolling and struck him.

"He fell to the passenger's side of the truck," said N.C. Highway Patrol Trooper Rich Willis. Assistant Fire Chief David Deal, who assisted emergency medical workers on the scene, said Mitchell had severe injuries to the right side of his body.

Mitchell, who was a truck driver with Odom Trucking in Alabama, was pumping gas when he stopped to talk with another truck driver about the weather and traveling conditions, Willis said. He was stabilized at the scene by emergency personnel and was then taken to Rowan Regional Medical Center, where he died.

The investigation is still pending and no charges have been filed. Investigators are also trying to determine how the unattended truck, leased by Toll Brothers Inc., of Virginia, rolled into Mitchell.

And every now and then, those names in the headline hit close to home - the man named in this tragedy was my favoritest uncle, Howard Mitchell. Uncle Howard was a loving husband, father, brother, son, uncle and co-worker. He had a heart that allowed him to give unconditionally and a boisterous laughter that would fill a stadium.... and now he's not here. Yes, it's definitely a void my family and those that loved him will feel for years to come.

Also let this serve as a reminder that tomorrow is not promised to any of us and the importance of living in the moment and letting those around us know how much we truly love them.


My Uncle, Howard Mitchell