Apr 7, 2014 By Ted Pritchard 2 min read

This letter concerns the tragedy involving two talented teenagers who had very promising futures and whose lives were taken from this lifetime possibly as a result of drag racing on Walnut Road, a very busy thoroughfare.

This was a very senseless tragedy that could have been prevented had this busy thoroughfare been patrolled by area law enforcement officers. Does a tragedy identical to this one have to occur before this thoroughfare is patrolled properly?

I have one very vital question: Car 54, Car 54 where are you? I might add there have been several other past incidents on this thoroughfare.

This tragedy is a perfect example where a regional police force could have played a vital role and come into play. Also of huge importance could be a tactical patrol neighborhood crime unit. The two above would have been in place today, and these tragical events, including the stabbing death of a young woman in a Fairchance bar and various home invasions, wouldn’t have happened.

The question remains: Is Fayette County really safe, especially when taking a stroll through Uniontown’s East End in the evening or, in fact, anywhere in Fayette County?

The two concepts are only a small portion of a patrol integrated management program that Fayette County is in dire need of. I might add there is no easy solution to our drug problem. The drug problem is here to stay, especially when seven out of 10 people have some type of drug addiction, either nicotine, prescription drugs, heroin or cocaine.

Alchohol is a drug. A drug is a drug. We all need to recognize the real crime problem.

Ted Pritchard is a resident of Fairchance.