Gone Too Soon

Sixteen-year-old Jennifer Metzger had just finished an evening of bowling, a sport she loved, when the SUV she was a passenger in became involved in a one-car crash.

Metzger, a sophomore at Colonia High School, was pronounced dead at the scene about 9:20 p.m. Another 16-year-old girl who was a passenger was flown by helicopter to a nearby hospital. She recovered from her injuries. The driver also survived the crash.

Jennifer was the only fatality.

An only child, Jennifer was her mom's world. The devastation of losing a child is unimaginable for any parent. Jennifer's mom is a tough Jersey girl. Her strength inspires many and after this tragedy she has reached out to other parents who have lost their children. Lisa has become a member of a club that most of us do not want membership to. She is the heartbroken mom of a child who was taken too soon.

Jennifer's parents and family know that there is nothing they can do to bring her back. They just hope that she will be remembered for all the lives she touched during her short time here.

The accident that killed Jennifer was a horrible tragedy. No matter what, nothing will change what happened on that fateful night.

However, family, friends and total strangers came together to fight for Justice for Jennifer. A petition was signed to attempt to get an investigation into why the grand jury did not indict the driver of the vehicle that was responsible for killing Jennifer.

A rally was held and hundreds of petitions were signed that were sent off to the Attorney General of the State of New Jersey in hopes of having the "powers that be" take a second look at this case. Although speed was a factor in the accident, the grand jury failed to indict the driver.

Witnesses to the accident claim that the driver of the SUV was racing with another vehicle soon after leaving the bowling alley parking lot and entering the highway. Others say that the driver of the SUV lost control when he was "cut off" by another driver. Speed was a factor in the driver losing control of the SUV and leaving the highway, hitting a tree. Had the driver not been speeding, perhaps he would not have lost control of the vehicle had he been cut off by another driver.

The fact that no charges were given to the driver angered and outraged many people. Although criminal charges would not change what happened, by not charging the driver a message was being sent to other teen drivers. Speeding is a violation of the law. Jennifer died as a result of injuries sustained from being a passenger in the SUV driven by this young man. Shouldn't he be held accountable for his reckless driving?

The "Justice for Jennifer" rally did attract hundreds and opened up discussions to taking another look at the laws regarding teen drivers in the State of New Jersey. The probationary status of licenses issued to new drivers is one issue that has been looked at since this horrible accident occurred.

Young teen drivers are responsible for many accidents in the state of New Jersey and most are not alcohol or drug related. Speed and reckless driving is the main cause.

If we are going to continue to send the message to teen drivers that they do not have to obey the laws of the road by not offering stiffer punishment for multiple offenses, tragedies will continue. Nothing will change what happened to Jennifer but maybe we can stop more tragedies from happening.

This picture really shows who Jennifer was. Fun, wild, silly and enjoying life just like many teenagers do.

Jennifer Elizabeth Metzger was born to Lisa and Alan Metzger on December 17, 1992.

When Jennifer was only 9 years old, she had open heart surgery to repair a hole in her heart. She had ASD or Atrial Septal Defect. That was a very tough time for Jennifer's parents and family. I remember my mother telling me about Lisa's daughter and I felt for what the family was going through. They must have been terrified.

According to Lisa, Jennifer faced it bravely. She was one tough little girl.

After Jennifer's passing, the hospital acknowledged her passing with a plaque in her honor. The Deborah Heart and Lung Center in New Jersey is known nationwide for the good that they do. If you would like to help by making a donation in Jennifer's name, follow the link to her Facebook page or the hospital's website.

The church hall was decorated and Jennifer and her friends and family celebrated her Sweet Sixteen. From the pictures I have seen, a good time was had by all. Jennifer looked beautiful and enjoyed her party. She danced with her dad (as seen in the picture). Little did her family know that a few short months later she would be gone from this world.

Jennifer lived every moment to the fullest. Her family and her friends will be the first to tell you that. There was never a dull moment with Jennifer around. She lit up the room and everyone's lives who she touched.

When Jennifer was four years old she starting taking dance lessons at Woodbridge School of Dance. She started out taking ballet and tap lessons and participated in yearly dance recitals. She moved on to taking lessons in lyrical, acrobatics and hip hop. At the time of her death, she was preparing to appear in her dance school's recital. She was still taking acrobatic lessons. Her dance school did a memorial in their program that year remembering all Jennifer's accomplishments in dance.

Jennifer was 10 years old when she started cheering with a local Pop Warner cheering squad the Fords Bearcats. She then went on to be a member of the award winning Saint Cecilia Golden Knights cheering squad. In 2004, when Jen was 12 years old, her team advanced and had the honor of attending a national cheering competition that was held in Walt Disney World in Florida. Jennifer's team won 1st place. Jennifer's mom fondly remembers this experience as being totally "awesome".

Jennifer was a cheerleader at her high school, Colonia High School in Colonia, New Jersey.

Jen started bowling at the age of eight. She started bowling with her mom and then became partners with her grandfather. Bowling was a family affair but from a young age, Jen showed a talent for the sport.
Jen took first place in a county tournament for her school with a high score of 257, the highest score she ever achieved. Her high school coach said she had the potential to go pro. Sadly, this is another dream she didn't get to realize.

Jennifer's fellow bowlers left her seat vacant on the team bus as a tribute to their beloved friend during what would have been her senior year of high school. An award for the highest scoring female in an individual game was renamed the Jennifer Metzger Award at the Woodbridge Township High School Classic, an annual bowling tournament at the Woodbridge Bowling Center.

Typical Jennifer clowning for the camera.