Goodbye to a Good Friend
September 27, 2002 started out like any other Friday. We went to school, proceeded throughout the day, and into the afternoon where FCA met like they do any other week. This meeting was special though. Our guest speaker was none other than Mr. Jeff Springer, who was the sponsor of FCA while he was at JV. Sadly, this was the first year that he was not with us as an administrator at our own school. Mr. Springer took a job with Magnolia High School as the new principal this year. However, he could never forget about us, so on that Friday, he boarded a school bus along with about 30 students from his school, and they journeyed across town to come join us at our FCA meeting. It was amazing to have two schools come together to worship the Lord, so everyone left FCA in a great mood. As I headed back to the dance room to get ready for Friday night's game against Tomball High School, my heart was light and I hummed one of the songs we sang in FCA.
The afternoon led way to evening which surrendered to night, and pretty soon we found ourselves chanting along with the cheerleaders, dancing with the band at the football game. Disappointed by our eventual loss but not defeated in spirit, we clamored off the buses back at school and climbed into our own vehicles, where we proceeded to Cici's, Taco Cabana, Denny's, and other such restaurants in search of happiness for our bellies. Coincidentally, it was Kitara's birthday, and the birthday girl opted for Denny's. We ordered our food and ate greedily, then broke out the cake that one of her friends had made, and sang "Happy Birthday" in loud, off-key voices. Finally satisfied, we parted ways and returned to our own houses where we all fell asleep the minute our heads hit our pillows.
What we didn't know was that while all of the excitement was going on in Tomball, back in Jersey Village there was much sadness. Sometime around 8 that evening, Justin Fisk, Dustin Sernec, and their friend Carlos were in Dustin's truck, heading to a friend's house to watch movies. Tragically, they never made it.
As the trio was leaving Jersey Village, their light turned from red to green and Dustin accelerated to make a left turn. He never saw the oncoming car that struck the passenger side where Justin was sitting and where Carlos, who was in the back, had just moved from not 30 seconds beforehand.
The cars collided but miraculously all three boys got out of the car and were conscious, talking, and whatnot. I've heard one of them was looking for a cigarette. I'm not sure about the validity of that.
The next morning, I get a phone call from my friend Leisa. She sounds less than happy, and I immediately ask what's wrong. Leisa and her friend had just come from Justin's house, consoling his parents. Justin died early Saturday morning from internal bleeding. I've also heard that they tried to pump 65 units of blood into him, but that he was bleeding so much internally that even that couldn't save him.
This past week at school has been torture. Our drill team director sent us home an hour early on Monday because no one had any energy to do anything. Monday was the hardest day I've ever spent at school. It was hard to walk around school and see the biggest, most macho football players with tears streaming down their cheeks. In memory of Justin, people made t-shirts that had his name and picture on the front, and his last words on the back, which were "Caught up in the game." Everything at school has changed drastically. The viewing of the body was on Tuesday, Justin was cremated, and the memorial service was held Wednesday. There were an estimated 300 people who left school Wednesday to attend the funeral. It was rumored that over 800 people were there in all. Again, not sure how credible my sources are.
Though I never knew Justin, everything that's happened in the past week has had a major impact on me. Passing the white wooden cross by the side of the road each day, and seeing the dozens and dozens of flowers and balloons overflowing onto the street made me realize that one person can make such a difference. The amazing thing was that Justin did not even go to our school this year; he has already graduated and was in college. But he was so involved in sports and extracurriculars, that everyone knew him. He was the senior standing at the door on the first day of school welcoming the freshmen. That's just the type of person he was. I've heard a lot about him from friends who were close to him, and every day I find myself thinking about it more and more, trying not to fight with my mom because every time we depart could be the last time I see her, driving a lot slower and hesitating to floor the accelerator the second the light turns green. I never knew Justin, never exchanged a single word with him, yet I'm grieving for his friends and his family, and I can only imagine what they're going through.
I just want to encourage everyone to think about the daily decisions they make. The driver of the car that hit Dustin's truck saw that the light was turning red, yet thought that they could "make it" and instead a fatal accident happened. Think about it. They didn't make it to where they were going any faster (or maybe not at all) and now we will never see Justin's smiling face again. All because of a careless error that could have been avoided with a little thinking and common sense. Everyday decisions can change the course of a life forever. Think about it.
*UPDATE* (May 9, 2003)
Today at school the seniors had a class meeting and the topic was drunk driving. We watched a video on Jacqueline Saburido, the girl who does the TV and radio ads about her body being severely disfigured by a car crash involving a drunk driver. (To see her story, go to
her website.) After we watched the video, Dustin Sernec came and spoke about the crash involving Justin and what it was like being there. Dustin was the one who drove. They had just made the third payment on his brand new truck (graduation present) and he said if it didn't have the bed on it you would think it's a car because it became so compacted from the crash. According to Dustin, the man in the car was estimated to be going 80-100 mph. Also in the car were his wife, his 3 year old twins, and his 9 year old daughter, who had a birthday that coming week. He suffered minor injuries (a few broken bones or something) but other than that was fine. The police found beer in his car and when asked why he was speeding he said they were late for a birthday party. Dustin spoke about how he heard Justin yell "Dustin watch out!" and how he saw a flash of light and then could hear what was going on but wasn't completely conscious. Dustin says he woke up and Justin was laying on top of him in the cab of the truck. He also talks about how he woke up the next morning in the hospital and watched his dad cry when he asked if Justin was ok and his parents had to tell him that he didn't make it. Dustin said that overall it took him 2-3 months to completely heal physically, but that the emotional wounds will never disappear. Since then the wife of the driver of the car has divorced him and Dustin assured us that he's going to make sure this guy pays for what he did.
Justin's Obituary:
JUSTIN ROSS FISK, 19, died as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident, Saturday, September 28, 2002. Justin graduated from Jersey Village High School in June and was currently attending Cypress Fairbanks Community College. He is survived by his adoring parents Bob (Robbie) and Jean, loving brother Brent, for whom he would do anything, and faithful companions Shelby and Spooky. Other survivors include grandmother Cecilia Fisk; great-grandmother Eva Kenjura, numerous cousins and countless friends. Additional survivors include grandmother Dora Hernandez and uncle Michael Hernandez, Holly Hernandez and cousins Brandon, Christian, Courtney and Allye Hernandez. Justin was preceded in death by grandfathers Arthur Lee Fisk and Jesse Hernandez. Underneath that tough-guy exterior was an emerging young man with a dazzling smile, beautiful brown eyes, quick wit, and full of charm. Justin enjoyed his Mustang, deer hunting with his Dad, long talks with his Mom, snow skiing, pumping iron and was looking forward to an upcoming fishing trip. His spirit continues in the many, many lives he touched; Justin will always be an inspiration: forever in our hearts. Justin's family will receive friends beginning at 5:00 PM Tuesday, October 1, 2002 at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 10135 West Road with a vigil service to follow at 7:00 P.M. Funeral Mass: 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, October 2, 2002 at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, with Rev. John Francis Ulm, Celebrant. In lieu of the usual remembrances, memorials may be made to the Justin R. Fisk Trust Fund.
Justin Ross Fisk
December 31, 1983 - September 28, 2002
R.I.P.
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