Gene Weingarten’s 2010 Pulitzer Prize winning article, “Fatal Distraction: Forgetting a Child in the Backseat of a Car Is a Horrifying Mistake. Is It a Crime,” originally appeared in the Washington Post. This article reported and explained the disturbing trend of children being forgotten by otherwise watchful parents in cars and literally baking to death in the summer sun. According to the article, “the worst day in the worst year so far in a phenomenon that gives no sign of abating,” occurred in 2009 when three children died in one day. Weingarten created a dramatic narrative that not only exposed this dangerous trend, but also warned parents to be more attentive through a combination of detailed scenarios and expert explanations.
Weingarten’s tone regarding this controversial topic was authoritative and balanced. Weingarten was able to discuss the details of the various cases without condemning or condoning the individuals mentioned. Weingarten chose various subjects who not only clearly framed the information provided, but also emphasized the point that this crime of forgetfulness could happen to anybody and is not restricted to specific demographics such as gender, economics or education. Mark Warschauer, a professor and Fulbright scholar dedicated to increasing literacy among children, is capable of committing the same exact crime as Lynn Balfour, a mother with a tumultuous upbringing and military background. Weingarten’s article demonstrated there is no criminal profile or “type” of family more likely to experience this terrible tragedy, only the shared characteristic of busy and distracted.
During the introduction of the article, Weingarten uses vivid, grotesque imagery in order to describe Miles Harrison, one of the several case studies Weingarten included in the article. Using this type of narrative language to describe Harrison is an interesting choice because it characterizes the individual responsible for such a terrible crime as somebody just as physically appalling. Moreover, the gothic-style writing highlights the grotesque, alarming and grave nature of the article. Also, Harrison, the “diligent businessman” who was “beset by problems from work” and thus forgot to drop his son off at daycare, is the epitome of the gothic hero who has fallen from grace.
Weingarten also impressively articulates the legal and psychological aspects of these crimes. The reader gains a thorough understanding of the legal process regarding judges and their ability to decide whether the parent will be charged with the crime of involuntary manslaughter or not. Also, by interviewing various experts on psychology and behavior, the reader is able to understand, and perhaps empathize with, the case studies presented. For example, Weingarten’s description of the ‘Swiss Cheese’ model illustrates how despite natural defenses, details slip through the cracks or holes in our minds and forget things we usually wouldn’t, such as a child in the backseat. In addition to the subjects and sources, the structure of Weingarten’s article also does a good job of highlighting how closely together these completely separate incidents occur. Weingarten’s writing immerses the reader in the story of one individual and then quickly uproots the reader and places them in a narrative that occurred a few days later, hundreds of miles away. The technique successfully illustrates the fast-paced nature and timeline of each crime.
Weingarten successfully profiles the individuals in each case: their personalities, the circumstances regarding the day, the casualty of their ‘accidents’ and how their lives have progressed since. The article also serves as a public service announcement that warns readers to be more vigilant and provides advice on how to avoid it happening to you.
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