(It's 5:04 pm on Sunday afternoon)

My photographer is setting up the live-truck for our story for tonight's 5:30 newscast.

I'll be showing the wreckage that is still scattered along Route 111 near Pontoon Beach, Illinois. Roughly 24 hours ago a young Granite City couple were heading down 111 on their way to a Blues game in downtown St. Louis. A suspected drunk driver crossed into their lane. They were both killed. The suspected drunk driver lived.

The husband's name was Adam Zimmer. His wife was Lindsey Arnold-Zimmer. Adam's brother Chris was gracious enough to talk with me this afternoon. He told me his brother and sister-in-law were special people. Lindsey volunteered with "Big Brother / Big Sister". Adam was a Special Education teacher at Wilson elementary in Granite City. They were married last June. They didn't want a "frilly" wedding so they had it in the park and turned it into a family picnic/luau complete with Hawaiian shirts.

He said his brother didn't ever think he would find somebody to marry. Then he met Lindsey.

(It's now 6:02 pm. We have finished our live shot and are on the way to talk to a representative from MADD for the 10pm newscast)

Chris told me that his brother had found what he was looking for in life when he met Lindsey. They fell in love and he soon asked her to marry him. For the guy who thought he had everything he needed in life, he was about to get even more. The couple were going to have their first child. The baby was due in July. This Wednesday they were to have an ultra-sound to learn if they would have a boy or a girl. Adam leaned toward a girl (he has twin sisters who are younger than him) and Lindsey leaned toward a boy (she was something of a tom-boy). They had names picked out already. Riley for a boy. Mackenzie for a girl.

When I was finished talking with Chris on Sunday afternoon he said tomorrow the family would begin making funeral arrangements.

The suspected drunker driver survived the accident. He's facing DUI and reckless homicide charges.

2 Comments

Claire said:

And I hope that the drunk driver who caused this horrible thing to happen is given a copy of this and forced to read it every day-to hopefully fully understand what he has done and how many lives he has affected. Maybe when he "knows" the people whose lives he destroyed, maybe then he will decide to get help so this doesn't happen again.

February 23, 2009 11:12 AM

Terra said:

The arrangements for Lindsey, Adam, and Riley are as follows:
Visitation is Wednesday from 4-8PM at Irwin Chapel on Maryville Rd. in Granite City. The funeral is on Thursday at 11AM at Sunset Hills in Edwardsville. We will be meeting at Calvery Life Church on Maryville Rd. in Granite City first and then going to the cemetary from there. Please spread this around to get the word out to all of their friends as soon as possible.

February 23, 2009 4:51 PM

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