Adults share the blame in recent tragedies in which alcohol
played a role in death and illegal behavior.
The tragic Sept. 6 death of young Victor Adrian Sandoval, killed by a fast-moving Union Pacific freight train, left us with new concerns about underage drinking and the role adults play in this thriving social problem.
The 18-year-old man, who was accompanied that evening by several “friends,” had been drinking excessively before the accident occurred. According to police, Sandoval was probably showing off when he played the dangerous game of “beat the train” running across the tracks at the Caltrain station at the intersection of Depot and Second streets. Sandoval was apparently so inebriated that the gates, whistles, lights and bells of the train didn’t deter him from crossing its path.
We know why Sandoval’s broken family couldn’t help him. His mother lost custody of her three younger children several years ago and has served time in jail for drug-related charges. We don’t know much about his father, but we wonder about the families of the others.
The same week Sandoval was killed, several incidents kept local police authorities busy, including a party hosted by a 16-year-old girl. Police said possibly up to 80 teenagers had been drinking without anyone knowing or caring about it until someone finally called the police to complain about the noise. The teenagers were so rowdy and defiant that they threw bottles, rocks and cursed at the officers trying to control them. A grandfather at the residence, who told police he was sleeping during the illegal gathering, apparently didn’t know about the party.
We wonder what will happen to the over-21 participants in the party where alcohol led to Sandoval’s death? Will the local police file charges? Will the police investigate why the grandfather and the parents of the underage party hostess allowed her to break the law? Will they find out who supplied the massive amount of alcohol that was probably consumed by the teenagers?
It’s time police authorities beef up their enforcement of underage drinking laws and use stricter punishment to crack down on those who supply alcohol to minors. The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control needs to work closely with cities like Morgan Hill and Gilroy to also go after stores that sell alcohol to teenagers.
While we believe that the teaching of the dangerous effects of alcohol should be taught at home, society at large, including police, school and other groups, must do better to educate younger residents about the dangers of alcohol consumption. There should be zero tolerance for underage drinking. It’s illegal, dangerous and plain stupid.
City police need to also better patrol the skate park where the teens had gathered to drink and party that evening. It’s too close to the tracks and another fatality could occur. The park has been closed for construction but the empty beer bottles left behind and the noise the underage crowd makes during weekends indicate they’re not respecting its closure.
We also encourage, and are willing to support, education officials at all levels to form Students Against Drunk Driving or Students Against Destructive Decisions clubs. For more than two decades, SADD groups have been empowering young people to resist the temptations of drug and alcohol consumption.
