5 Perspectives

Today, we are speaking to a few shaken pedestrians after what seems to be a drunk driving accident. At 4:29 a.m. this morning, we received news of strange driving on Route 3, and here to tell us more is Taylor County’s very own Sheriff Sparks. Sheriff?

Sheriff: We had received a few disturbing calls from residents at around 4 a.m., and we decided to send a dispatch unit out to investigate. Unfortunately, when we got there, several people were hurt in addition to a deceased driver in a white Ford Ultimo. After alerting the paramedics, we went ahead and got a few testimonies. Several people described hearing loud noises at about 3:45 a.m., and some even thought it was drag racing from the squealing sound of the tires. From the tread marks we saw upon arrival, we have reason to believe it may have been a drunk driving accident where the intoxicated driver swerved to avoid hitting something and crashed into the rail. While the seatbelt kept the driver in his vehicle, the force of the impact crushed his skull, killing him on impact. Luckily, he did not hurt anyone else; there was a young teen we sent to the hospital to be checked out—she was in the passenger seat and suffered minor injuries.

Thank you so much, Sheriff Sparks. After this break, Morning News at 9 will let you hear from first-hand testimonies. My name is Jerry Star, and this is Morning News at 9!

(Commercial break)

Welcome back, Taylor County, to Morning News at 9. After a fatal drunk driving accident that killed the driver and injured a young teen, we have news anchor Jerry Star at the scene to give us a first-hand testimony of the carnage. Jerry?

Jerry: Hello, Martha. Many locals I have interviewed this morning say they could tell something was amiss when their usually quiet morning commutes and preparations for school were interrupted by loud tire screeching, followed by a loud crash. Here to talk to us about what she heard is Mrs. Dianne Smith, who was getting ready to go to work when she heard the loud screeching and was the first to call the Taylor County dispatch.

Mrs. Smith: I was getting ready in my bathroom, which faces Route 3. While I was straightening my hair, I heard some loud screeching. I was already on my way to call the police when I heard screaming coming from the road. I told the police everything I saw while looking out my bathroom window. I saw the car swerve to miss something in the road, and it crashed into the railing. I heard the screaming when the car swerved, but after the car crashed, the screaming stopped. I expected the worst. I’m glad no one else was hurt, but it’s still very sad what happened to the driver.

Thank you for your testimony, Mrs. Smith. Up next to tell you the details of the crash is our Morning News at 9 accident expert. Back to you, Martha.

Martha: Well, here in the Morning News at 9 studio, we have local crash expert Tom Robbins here to tell us about the facts of the crash. Now, Tom, I think the first question on everyone’s mind is: What really happened?

Tom: Well, Martha, I wasn’t there, but from a close examination of the crime scene photos, it becomes clear there is no way this could have been a drunk driving accident. The tire marks in the road show a sudden stop, indicating a five-second reaction time, and there is no way someone who was inebriated could have stopped that quickly. In addition, we have a young teen's testimony that suggests foul play.

Martha: Well, that is certainly stressful news, Tom. But Morning News at 9 will be right back with the details right after these messages from our sponsors.

And we are back! Morning News at 9 has the latest on all local news. Before we left, Tom, our crash expert, said the tire marks indicated drunk driving is not a possibility, and that the teen found at the scene has given a testimony revealing foul play. Here to give you the details is our field reporter, Jerry Star, who is at Glory’s Pass Hospital to talk to this young teen. Jerry?

Jerry: Thank you, Martha. Here at Glory’s Pass Hospital is a young teen who suffered a major spine injury. Upon arrival at the scene of the crime, the teen appeared to be fine—merely scraped up and scared—but after being admitted to the emergency room, the head surgeon says she is lucky to be alive. Unfortunately, we have just received word that the family does not wish for their daughter’s testimony to be aired, so this is where the story ends. Until next time, Taylor County, this is Jerry Star, your eyes and ears for all local news!

(A young woman who looks to be about twenty-five enters the young teen’s room. The teen’s condition is critical; while she is still conscious and able to communicate, her body remains immobile from the neck down.)

Detective Banks: Hello, my name is Detective Banks. We were sent from the Taylor County deputies' office to get your testimony, and we have your parents’ consent. Whenever you are ready, I would like to hear your statement.

(The young teen lets tears roll down her face.)

Debra Cohen: (through tears) I need to speak to my lawyer, please.

(The detective looks back at the teen, who has yet to make eye contact, with a worried expression.)

Detective Banks: Of course. I will have the nurse bring you a phone.

(After the detective leaves, a few minutes pass. A plump, usually cheerful nurse, now wearing a look of sadness, places a phone on the tray table next to the teen.)

Nurse Donald: I need to dial the number for you, and I will put it on speaker and leave so you can use the phone in private, darling.

Debra Cohen: 980-0577.

(The nurse quickly punches the numbers into the phone, hits the speaker button, and leaves the room. Nurse Donald then shoos away some lingering orderlies from the hallway. The phone rings twice before the other end picks up.)

Luke Cohen: Hey, are you okay? I heard on the news that you are paralyzed. Is that true? What happened, Debra?

DC: Do you have Uncle John’s number?

LC: Of course.

DC: After I explain everything, I need you to call him and tell him to come down to the hospital to help me talk to the detective. I don’t want you to call anyone else—not even Mom and Dad. They’re in Copenhagen, so they’re probably not watching the news. Call Aunt Jena and tell her to keep her mouth shut.

LC: I can do that. Please tell me what happened.

DC: I was at the train station this morning, ready to leave to go back to UFCU, and there was a man watching me. I didn’t think much of it because, ever since I got my boob job, guys stare, so I just ignored him. He followed me into the ticket booth, and I was about to turn around to ask him what his problem was when he grabbed me. He put a rag over my mouth, and everything went dark. When I came to, I was in a car going way too fast down Route 3. He kept saying something repeatedly, but I don’t know what it was; it was like a different language. I couldn’t really hear anything clearly, but I saw something in the road ahead, and I screamed. He looked back at the road, swerved, and hit the railing. His airbag didn’t open, and his head smashed into the steering wheel. There was blood all over me, and I couldn’t move. I couldn’t feel anything. I still don’t feel anything.

LC: I’m going to call John. Just hold tight, okay?

DC: The nurses said there was a lot of blood in my pants. I think he may have—

LC: Let’s just call John and go from there, okay? I’ll make sure he is quick. I love you, sis. I will call you when I know he is on his way.

(Debra looks up, expecting the nurse to return at any moment. Instead, an orderly enters, and she expects him to hang up the phone.)

Orderly: Are you Debra Cohen?

DC: Yes.

(The orderly pulls out a pistol with a silencer on it and quickly shoots her in the head. The orderly then pulls out a cell phone and hits speed dial.)

Orderly: She’s dead.

Phone Voice: No loose ends, Hank.

(With that, the orderly hangs up the phone and, quickly but without raising suspicion, goes out to his car parked in the east wing parking lot. He grabs a syringe out of his glove compartment and injects himself with a lethal dose of heroin.)

Orderly: You’re going to be okay, Rebecca. You’re safe now.

(About thirty minutes pass, and the orderly is dead. The entire hospital is on lockdown while police scan the perimeter, looking for whoever shot Debra Cohen. No one is allowed to leave the hospital grounds until the perpetrator has been found.)