Sam Lethbridge squinted through the smudged windscreen of his white SUV as a light drizzle fell. The [then] 17-year-old had spent the night with his mates in Wyoming on the Central Coast of Australia and was now making the 40-minute drive to his home in Lake Macquarie.
It was 4:30 a.m. Life was good. Sam had passed his driving test in October 2017 and had owned his own car for four months, a small Hyundai ix35. And on Friday he’d just signed up to a new electrical and air conditioning apprenticeship. After celebrating with friends, he was heading home along the familiar road towards bed.
A keen boxer, soccer player and gym-goer, Sam was extremely fit. He never drank alcohol or took drugs. As he drove along the dark highway, he took a swig from the large bottle of water he always carried to stay hydrated— good habits that were to save his life.
Sam’s parents, Tony and Leigh, were away for a weekend in Canberra, the first time they’d left their three children unattended. Sam’s older siblings Luke, 22, and Megan, 20, were at home, and Sam, always reliable and responsible, had let them know his plans for the evening. He’d also texted his girlfriend during the evening: See you tomorrow at 12.
He was nearing home, just 10 more minutes to go. Thick trees lined the road and there were no other cars in sight. Sam was getting really tired now. He slowed down as he entered an 80 kph zone, his bright headlights cutting through the blackness of the meandering road as he struggled to keep his eyes open. Then, still travelling at speed, sleep overcame him. He veered off the side of the road, sideswiping a large concrete pole that ripped off the driver’s door before plunging down the embankment. The airbags exploded as the car spun around, rolled twice, finally coming to a rest, right side up, 20 metres below the road.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
From the King's Table to Street Food: A Food History of Delhi
Pushpesh Pant, one of India’s pre-eminent food writers, is back with a comprehensive food history of the capital.
Who Wants Coffee?
It’s bitter—but beloved around the world
Prevent The Pain Of Shingles
You don't have to suffer, as long as you take two important steps
The Best And Worst Diets For Your Heart
Dozens of diets are touted as ‘best’, but it’s easy to lose track of the fact that healthy eating needs to be about overall wellness, not just weight loss.
ME & MY SHELF
Journalist Sopan Joshi has worked in a science and environment framework for nearly three decades. His book Mangifera indica: A Biography of the Mango (Aleph Book Company) synthesizes the sensory appeal of India's favourite fruit with its elaborate cultural roots and natural history. He writes in English and Hindi.
SWITCHED
In 1962, nurses at a small Canadian hospital sent home two women with the wrong babies. Then, 50 years later, their children discovered the shocking mistake.
ECHOES OF THE PAST
A VISIT TO THE ANCIENT BARABAR CAVES IN BIHAR REVEALS A SURPRISING CONNECTION TO A LITERARY CLASSIC
Fathers of the Bride
A young woman finds a unique way to honour the many men who helped her survive her childhood
Fiction's Foresight
British-Bangladeshi author Manzu Islam's works reveal startling parallels to recent political upheavals in Bangladesh, begging the question: Besides helping us make sense of our world, can stories also offer a glimpse into the future?
It Happens ONLY IN INDIA
The Divine Defence Picture this: A tractor in Rajasthan‘s Banswara district,a group of loan agents closing in to seize it and the defaulting farmer and his family standing by.