A truly sad part of my job is reporting on deaths and there have been way too many recently. One that happened Monday afternoon touched particularly close to my heart though.

Alexandra Meredeth Tweedy, 16, died in a one-vehicle crash shortly after leaving Northern Nash High School, where she was a junior and actively involved with the school's band. Authorities said she overcorrected when she ran off the road and ended up overturning her 2002 Honda Accord and becoming trapped . Crews extricated her from the wreckage and took her to the hospital, but she succombed to her injuries about an hour after the crash.

The bubbly teen was an only child, so I can only imagine what her parents are going through. I called them for comment, but they were too distressed (and understandably so) to talk. Thankfully people who knew the teen and wanted to share their memories were not in short supply. HERE is the story from Wednesday's paper.

One of the family's neighbors shared some great stories that truly seemed to exemplify what a special youth she was. I would like to dedicate this blog in her memory and hope others will share their stories, too.

As a reporter though, I would be remiss if I did not urge people, especially young drivers, to learn from this crash and remember it when they get behind the wheel.  Overcorrecting is a major problem, especially among young drivers, so if your tires do go off the roadway, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE ease them back on instead of jerking the steering wheel.  By simply easing back on the roadway, you have less chance of driving into oncoming traffic or off the other side of the road - both of which can be costly mistakes.

Also, please understand the responsibility associated with driving. It is not a right, but a privilage that many teens (myself included) all too often take for granted. A 3,000 pound car can do a lot of damage to yourself and to others, so do not disregard its power. Drive carefully and defensively - your parents and your community will thank you.