Many people are affected by drunk driving, here are our stories:
This victim's story is under construction. Check later.
Peter's life ceased to exist at the early age of 27 because of the reckless acts of a drunk driver. It was Christmas night in 1999, what is supposed to be a day of good memories and celebration is now a day that takes family and friends back to this terrible nightmare for the rest of our lives.
We left Peter's sister's house to say goodnight to my mother, not knowing that we would never make it there. We were violently struck by an irresponsible drunk driver, who attempted to leave the scene but was apprehended by angels who witnessed the tragedy. Peter had no chance of survival, even though Doctors did everything they could; my husband died within an hour and a half. Although Peter was a registered donor, the internal damage was so severe that all of his organs had ruptured; making all of them useless to anyone he might have been able to save.
Nobody had a chance to see him one last time or hold his hand before he took his last breath. Peter died alone, without being able to see, hear, or feel someone he loved and could have given him comfort. I was not able to be with him as I had suffered a broken clavicle, scapula, and ribs. Doctors also feared I had a broken spine; therefore they didn’t want to move me. For two days after the crash, I was in and out of consciousness. But when I fully awoke, nobody had to tell me that Peter was no longer with us. My heart felt so heavy and the feeling of loneliness is something that can’t be described.
I remember the Chaplain walking into my room and sitting by my bedside, I just closed my eyes and waited for him to say the words, “DOCTORS DID EVERYTHING THEY COULD, BUT, YOUR HUSBAND DID NOT SURVIVE”. My heart sank and the pain was unbearable. Days after when I was released I had to go straight to the cemetery and to the funeral home to choose my husband’s casket; that in itself was our whole family’s brutal reality and no words could ever describe the pain we all felt.
The offender was tried and prosecuted but it really doesn't matter how much time he spent in prison as it is no measure to the permanent loss that he has caused so many. In the end, he was able to go home and hear the words “I love you” from his family and got a second chance in life. This same chance is something that he took from Peter when he decided he could drink, drive and still be in control. Peter was a young man filled with so much love and dreams, now all that is left is the "what if's" and "what might have been".
DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE AND DON’T LET FRIENDS DRIVE DRUNK!
We left Peter's sister's house to say goodnight to my mother, not knowing that we would never make it there. We were violently struck by an irresponsible drunk driver, who attempted to leave the scene but was apprehended by angels who witnessed the tragedy. Peter had no chance of survival, even though Doctors did everything they could; my husband died within an hour and a half. Although Peter was a registered donor, the internal damage was so severe that all of his organs had ruptured; making all of them useless to anyone he might have been able to save.
Nobody had a chance to see him one last time or hold his hand before he took his last breath. Peter died alone, without being able to see, hear, or feel someone he loved and could have given him comfort. I was not able to be with him as I had suffered a broken clavicle, scapula, and ribs. Doctors also feared I had a broken spine; therefore they didn’t want to move me. For two days after the crash, I was in and out of consciousness. But when I fully awoke, nobody had to tell me that Peter was no longer with us. My heart felt so heavy and the feeling of loneliness is something that can’t be described.
I remember the Chaplain walking into my room and sitting by my bedside, I just closed my eyes and waited for him to say the words, “DOCTORS DID EVERYTHING THEY COULD, BUT, YOUR HUSBAND DID NOT SURVIVE”. My heart sank and the pain was unbearable. Days after when I was released I had to go straight to the cemetery and to the funeral home to choose my husband’s casket; that in itself was our whole family’s brutal reality and no words could ever describe the pain we all felt.
The offender was tried and prosecuted but it really doesn't matter how much time he spent in prison as it is no measure to the permanent loss that he has caused so many. In the end, he was able to go home and hear the words “I love you” from his family and got a second chance in life. This same chance is something that he took from Peter when he decided he could drink, drive and still be in control. Peter was a young man filled with so much love and dreams, now all that is left is the "what if's" and "what might have been".
DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE AND DON’T LET FRIENDS DRIVE DRUNK!
11 Facts About Driving Under the Influence
1. Impairment is not reliant upon the type of alcohol consumed, rather the number of drinks over a certain period of time. Despite myths and misconceptions, coffee, a cold shower, or exercise will not make a person more sober; only time will.
2. On average, a drunk driver will drive 80 times under the influence before their first arrest.
3. Every 53 minutes in America, someone is killed in a drunk driving crash. That equates to 27 people every day.
4. For drivers under 21, the U.S. has a No Tolerance policy that does not allow any alcohol to be in the blood system while behind the wheel. The consequences could include expensive fines, loss of license or jail.
5. Every 90 seconds, someone is injured from a drunk driving incident.
6. In 2011, 9,878 people were victims of drunk drivers.
7. Between 50 to 75% of the people who have had their licenses revoked due to driving under the influence drive illegally without their license.
8. Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for teens, and roughly 1/3 of these accidents involve alcohol or another substance.
9. Thanks to law enforcement around driving under the influence, since 1980 the fatality rate of drunk driving has been cut by 50%.
10. 211 children were killed in drunk driving crashes in 2010. Of those 211 children, 62% were riding in the car with the impaired driver.
11. Kids and teens who get involved with alcohol at a young age are 7 times more likely to be involved in an alcohol-related crash in their lives.
https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-driving-under-influence
2. On average, a drunk driver will drive 80 times under the influence before their first arrest.
3. Every 53 minutes in America, someone is killed in a drunk driving crash. That equates to 27 people every day.
4. For drivers under 21, the U.S. has a No Tolerance policy that does not allow any alcohol to be in the blood system while behind the wheel. The consequences could include expensive fines, loss of license or jail.
5. Every 90 seconds, someone is injured from a drunk driving incident.
6. In 2011, 9,878 people were victims of drunk drivers.
7. Between 50 to 75% of the people who have had their licenses revoked due to driving under the influence drive illegally without their license.
8. Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for teens, and roughly 1/3 of these accidents involve alcohol or another substance.
9. Thanks to law enforcement around driving under the influence, since 1980 the fatality rate of drunk driving has been cut by 50%.
10. 211 children were killed in drunk driving crashes in 2010. Of those 211 children, 62% were riding in the car with the impaired driver.
11. Kids and teens who get involved with alcohol at a young age are 7 times more likely to be involved in an alcohol-related crash in their lives.
https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-driving-under-influence