Blaze Manning speaks at RID 2006 National Coalition Convention

Blaze Manning is a 12-year-old student at Cedar Bluff Middle School in Knoxville, TN. She is also Miss Tennessee Preteen 2005. Blaze has been working diligently to form a chapter of SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions). This mission hits close to home for Blaze and her family.

In April 2005, Blaze‛s 17-year-old brother, Justin, and his friend decided to have a party at the friend‛s house — after all, the mother was out of town. They recruited older friends (over 21 years) to buy the alcohol. Once at the party, Justin started drinking and smoking pot, which was also available. A girl attending the party became sick and Justin decided to drive her home in case she needed medical attention. As he was driving down the road in West Knoxville, he reached over to check if his passenger had her seat belt on. She did not. In the meantime, he lost control of his car, veered off the road, hit a telephone pole and rolled over 4-5 times into a ditch before coming to a stop against a concrete embankment. His passenger was thrown out of the car through the sunroof and landed in the ditch, where she died. Justin suffered cuts and bruises. He was arrested and charged with Vehicular Homicide.

At his trial several people testified on Justin‛s behalf, including Blaze. His case remained in the Juvenile court system where he will remain in custody until the judge decides he can be released to go home. He was given a second chance to turn his life around. After years of getting in trouble, Justin realizes how precious life is.

The real crime did not start with the wreck and the death of the young girl, it started with the “adults” who supplied the alcohol at the party. If they had been responsible “adults” and said “NO,” then this tragedy probably would have been prevented. Those of us who are supposed to be able to make mature decisions are responsible for the ones who are too young to make these decisions for themselves!