Josh Lee

Shared by Macy Lee of Spartanburg County

On October 11, 2015, my life changed forever. My little brother Joshua Richard Lee was killed in a car crash due to drinking and driving.  He was a Junior at USC Upstate, and he was on the Cross Country team. He was in a relationship with the girl of his dreams.  He was supposed to propose to her in May 2016.  Josh already had the whole occasion planned; however, he was unable to make that proposal because his life was cut short.

Josh got into a car with several friends.  Eventually the car would travel at a high rate of speed, leave the road, crash into a tree, and catch fire. On the scene, three of the five passengers died. Josh suffered traumatic injuries and was taken to the hospital. On the morning of October 11th, we had to decide whether to keep Josh on life support or to discontinue it. That was one of the hardest decisions my parents ever had to face. Four of the five passengers in the car were killed. It was later determined that the driver had a BAC double the legal limit. In fact, it was determined Josh was the only one in the car who was NOT intoxicated.

Four people lost their life because the driver chose to drive drunk. Losing a sibling has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever dealt with in my life.  My world was turned upside down. I wake up every day and question why Josh had to die. I no longer have a brother; I am now an only child. I will forever be angry that Josh had to go the way he did. I always wonder what life would be like if Josh was still here.

On May 2nd, 2017, Josh would have graduated from USC Upstate with his fellow teammates and friends. I cannot help but to think of the legacy he left behind. Josh finished his race here on Earth and now he can watch while his friends and family finish theirs.

Many things have happened since his crash, including a memorial scholarship that was started in Josh’s name.  I want to use this story to honor my brother, Joshua Richard Lee.  Don’t drink and drive. It’s not worth it.