He has more than 2 million hits on YouTube, but he is no celebrity — no amateur musician playing his guitar and singing love songs into the face of a computer screen. He made a confession. He is a murderer.
Matthew Cordle, 22, got drunk one night, drove into oncoming traffic, and crashed into another car and posted a message of “awareness” for the world to see.
His blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit in Ohio, yet he made the choice to drive home after getting wasted with his friends. He got on the highway and drove in the opposite direction when he struck Vincent Canzani, a navy veteran, a father — a human being.
Cordle describes how he killed “a man” and fails to say victim Canzani’s name until two minutes into the video. He said he “lost control” and “made a mistake.” We all make mistakes. Mixing light and dark laundry together is a mistake. Giving the wrong change to a cashier is a mistake. Getting into a car plastered, turning on the ignition, and driving in a daze and failing to understand the implications of drinking and driving is no mistake.
Maybe he wants to raise awareness for drunk driving. Or maybe, this will make him look good in court as he is being charged with aggravated vehicular homicide. He killed Canzani, 61, on June 22 and conveniently posted the video Sept. 3 when his hearing was Sept. 18. He pleaded guilty after originally pleading not guilty. But, his intentions don’t sit well with me because they aren’t genuine. By sharing this video, almost three months after the tragic accident, he is asking for empathy and asking forgiveness for something that is unforgivable.
Do I feel badly? Yes, for the man who died because of another man’s recklessness. I feel badly for the family who grieves the loss of Canzani’s preventable death. More than anything, I’m ashamed that there are people in this world who don’t know their limits and never consider the consequences of their actions until it’s too late. No one can accept an apology when “I’m sorry” was never said in the first place.
