A Highway Cry for Caution: Why We Must Slow Down Before It’s Too Late

The Healing Room

On July 6, 2025, just after the Perkins exit on I-240 North near Memphis, I witnessed something that will forever change the way I drive, observe, and respond. A man had been thrown from his motorcycle. His body was visibly dismembered across multiple lanes. Traffic continued to move. Some drivers may not have seen him in time. Others may not have known what they were looking at until it was too late.

I was one of the witnesses.

And what I saw was not a movie. It was a man. A life. A soul.

Here’s What We Know:

A motorcyclist was involved in a fatal accident near the Perkins exit on I-240 N.
His body was severely impacted, with clear signs of being hit more than once.
A woman stood at the scene in visible distress, potentially one of the drivers who struck him.
Emergency crews were called and the expressway was later shut down completely.
There is unconfirmed word that the victim may have been a firefighter.

Why This Matters:

Accidents like this don’t just happen in headlines—they happen in real life. They happen in real time. And they leave lasting trauma, not just for the victims and their families, but for the people who see it and carry the weight of that moment home with them.

I made the 911 call. I reported what I saw. I shared the incident online not to gain attention, but in hopes that someone who loved him would know where he was—or that someone in Memphis would pause and reconsider their speed, their reaction time, and their sense of urgency behind the wheel.

Let’s Talk About Driving Culture in Memphis:

The roads are fast.

Aggression is normalized.

And sometimes, the humanity in our city is lost in the blur of traffic.

Whether someone is speeding to work or scrolling at a red light, we are all guilty of treating driving as an afterthought rather than a sacred responsibility. But we forget:

Your car becomes a weapon when your awareness is gone.

And a moment of distraction can cost someone everything.

What Can We Do?

Slow down — literally.
The extra minutes are never worth the permanent loss.
Stay alert — especially at night.
Poor lighting, motorcycles, and debris can easily be missed. Train your eyes to see more.
Report what you witness.
Even if you can’t stay at the scene, your voice matters.
Call 911. Share key details. Help identify the unidentified.
Cultivate compassion.
Don’t assume people are “just being dramatic” or “trying to go viral” when they speak up. Some of us carry the weight of what we saw so others don’t have to.

The Human Cost

I don’t know the man’s name yet. I don’t know his family. But I pray for them.

And I hope this blog reaches someone who will take a different route home today—not just physically, but mentally. A route that’s slower. Kinder. More aware. And rooted in the fruit of the Spirit.

Because life on the highway isn’t just about getting where you’re going—

It’s about making sure you and everyone else gets there alive.