A Routine Drive. A Life Cut Short. Are Our Families Truly Prepared for the Sudden?

While reading breaking news on Patch last week, I came across the story of a 24-year-old man who was just sentenced to prison for drunk driving — a sentence tied to a devastating crash that happened back in 2022.

In that crash, a 44-year-old woman lost her life.
Her passenger survived but suffered serious injuries.
Both were simply driving along a local road — not the Parkway, not a highway — just going about their day.

Three years later, the court process is over.
But for the families affected, the impact began the moment that car crossed the double yellow line.

And that’s the reality so many people forget:

Tragedy doesn’t only show up in the moment it happens.

It lingers, unfolds, and keeps reshaping lives long after the headlines fade.

When an accident occurs, especially one as sudden as this, families are thrust into an unexpected maze — grief, medical decisions, financial disruptions, legal processes, and long-term recovery. And in many cases, the question becomes:

“Was there a plan in place that made any of this easier?”

Most families don’t think about planning until after a crisis — but that’s when it’s too late.

This 2022 tragedy highlights something we rarely talk about in our community:

Even on ordinary days, life can shift instantly — and without estate planning, families are left exposed.

Not because they didn’t care.
Not because they weren’t responsible.
But because no one expects their life to change on an average drive down a quiet road.

When there’s no plan:

• loved ones have no legal authority to access bank accounts
• medical decisions become complicated
• children may not have an immediate, legally-recognized caregiver
• families face court delays during the worst moments of their lives
• financial responsibilities pile up instantly
• surviving relatives struggle to honor wishes that were never formally documented

The chaos doesn’t come from the tragedy itself — it comes from the lack of clarity that follows.

And here’s what parents, caregivers, and families need to take from this story:

This woman had no reason to believe her last day would begin like any other day.
No reason to think a drunk driver would cross into her lane.
No reason to imagine her family would be forced to navigate life without her.

But life doesn’t give warnings.
It gives moments — and we only control what we prepare for.

Estate planning is about exactly this:

ensuring your family doesn’t face a second crisis after the first one hits.

It creates:

• emergency guardianship plans for minor children
• authorized decision-makers for medical and financial matters
• access to resources without court delays
• clear direction during confusion
• peace of mind long before a courtroom or crisis ever enters the picture

We can’t stop every tragedy.

But we can make sure families aren’t left navigating chaos on top of heartbreak.

If this breaking news reminded me of anything, it’s this:
The moments we don’t plan for are the moments our families are most vulnerable.

And no family deserves to be unprepared.

— Eldonie S. Mason, Esq., Barnegat Resident & Local Attorney Helping Families Protect What Matters Most

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