was only eleven years old when she died in an auto accident – a survivable accident – but she had lived a full and busy life. She had traveled to other countries and camped in the woods. She was a poet, an honor student and soccer player. She always ran, jumped, climbed and fell into whatever she was doing. The best place to read a book is perched in tree. The proper way to descend the stairs is to jump over as many as possible. And the only way to laugh is out loud! Jamie truly was the joy and noise of our lives.
The only reason Jamie isn’t with us today is because she had her car seat reclined. With the seatbelt fastened, she reclined the seat to nap on the journey home from school. Just 2 blocks from home they hit a utility pole. Her body was thrown forward to the shoulder harness and as she started backwards the seat came forward and hit her in the head with such force that she died of severe brain trauma.

The danger of reclined seats has been known since the mid-70s. In 1982 an independent safety agency found that traveling with a seatback reclined is “potentially dangerous” and called for limits on how far seats should be able to recline. Although NHTSA first responded by agreeing, “most people who ride with the seatback reclined are not aware of the associated risk,” it later reversed that opinion, saying the warnings in owner’s manuals are enough.

We weren’t aware of the danger until it was too late. Please keep yourself and loved ones safe, never recline your seat while in a moving vehicle.

“Buckle tight and sit upright”

Eleven years, the joy of our lives
Every minute in our thoughts
Forever in our hearts

Joyful Jamie Snow, we love and miss you eternally.

Mom, Dad and Dork