KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The year 2012 saw the number of deadly accidents drop in Kansas City, Mo. But the number of alcohol related crashes is still a big concern. Tyler Bronson has no time or sympathy for drunk drivers.
“They live in the moment, it’s about them, it’s not about who they could affect, who they could kill,” Bronson explained .
Tyler’s life changed forever in the summer of 2011.
“Young guy out partying all night 4th of July felt need to drive home at 8 in the morning after having been drinking all night, he had a blood alcohol content of .235. He hit my mom and sister head on and that was the biggest turning point in my life. Tragic, still haven’t recovered from that,” Bronson said.
Just when Bronson thought he was getting his life in order, it happened again. His dad, Buddy Bronson, was hit while riding on his motorcycle at Bannister and Wornall.
“My dad was absolutely my go-to-guy. If I was feeling down, I’d go there and everything he said put a smile on my face,” he said.
When his father died, Tyler had to be the go-to-guy and he had to make the tough decision.
“There’s always that question of opened casket or closed casket. At 22 I was the one who had to make that call,” he said. “I was the one who had to view to then decide it had to be a closed casket because he was on a motorcycle and that gentleman hit him at a higher speed.”
Tyler says the accident and the one that took his mom and sister never should have happened. They aren’t really accidents, he says, when it’s a selfish choice that led to them. He calls drinking and driving a disgusting, selfish act.
Ronald O’Kelly is charged with involuntary manslaughter and leaving the scene of the accident that killed Buddy Bronson. Tyler plans to be at the Jackson County courthouse in April when O’Kelly’s trial begins.
