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Grief in the aftermath of a highway accident is particularly sharp because of its lack of context. There is no long illness to prepare the mind, no gradual goodbye. There is only the sudden, violent transition from presence to absence. The nineteen individuals who passed away were not just statistics in a “fatal accident” report; they were parents returning from work, students traveling to classes, and travelers heading toward reunions. Their stories were cut short by a mechanical failure that, in the eyes of many, should have been preventable through stricter maintenance and more rigorous oversight.
