Please-Don'tDrink&Drive
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Do Some Research
- Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking.
Drunk Driving
I am writing this in the hopes of preventing another disaster in another life, for another family or for you. I cannot stress one point enough. Don't drink and drive. I am in no means saying don't live your life, I am saying think ahead, have a designated driver, get a cab, something. Get yourself home so you don't wind up making a deadly mistake, or a mistake you will have to live with for the rest of your life, the mistake of taking anothers life as a result of your irresponsible actions. The decision to say, "I got it", can lead you to one of two places, the grave or jail and for who knows how long.
Stay Informed and Stay Aware
Here are some statistics compiled by Mother's Against Drunk Driving:
In 2008, the ten states that had the highest number of drinking and driving related traffic fatalities were:
- Texas with 1,269 deaths
- California with 1,029 deaths
- Florida with 875 deaths
- Pennsylvania with 496 deaths
- North Carolina with 423 deaths
- Georgia with 416 deaths
- South Carolina with 403 deaths
- Illinois with 362 deaths
- Ohio with 356 deaths
- New York with 341 deaths
The total number of alcohol-related driving fatalities across all 50 states in 2008 was 11,773.
They're Not Just Statistics
How many people do you think are affected by the outcome of these statistics? Take into account the families, the loved ones, the friends, the coworkers, the neighbor whose life is never quite the same. The numbers have got to be in the range of the hundred thousands, if not more, for that matter. Lives are devastated.
These are not just statistics, these are people, lives, souls and they are GONE forever, in the blink of an eye, their loved ones had to plan their funeral. Does any of this seem fair to you because some yahoo decided to get behind the wheel and "think" they could make it home. It certainly does not seem fair to me. Of course, I have my reasons.
My Reasons
My brother in law, Casey Wild, was killed by a drunk driver on September 2, 2002. One of his two passangers Edgar was lifelflighted from the scene and was pronounced dead with-in two hours, leaving behind a two month old baby girl, who would never get to know her daddy, the other passanger Eli, was also lifeflighted from the scene, he remained in a coma for over 3 months, but he is the sole survivor . Casey was pronounced dead on impact. They were all of 20 years old.
The person that stood accused and eventually received 24 years in prision was but a child, a mere 19. However, this 19 year old had a previous DWI's in Galveston County, in one he had slammed into a lady and forced her off the road, then laughed about it, in fact, and unfortunately he had not been tried for that act, what if he had been sentenced to jail for that act. If he had, maybe Casey would still be alive, maybe we would have somewhere to visit him other than the cemetery. Maybe, maybe, maybe. What if, what if, what if. That is all that is left for the survivors, for those whose loved one was lost to a drunk driver.
The Trial
Not only do you have to deal with the loss of a loved one. You eventually have to go to trial to and face the accused. By no means is this an easy task. All the pain, all the sorrow and all the loss is relived again. How very cruel, but yet, how very necessary. You put your faith in the judicial system, which, as I have subtly pointed out, is not one of my favorite things to do. You get to find out how much your loved on was worth by the sentence handled down from the jury to the judge. It is heart breaking, it is emotional, and it is hard.
Casey, Edgar, and Eli's case did not go to trial until August of 2003, almost a year after the death of my brother in law and his friend Edgar, a mere nine months since Eli had come out of a coma. We were forced to see pictures of the wreck, we were forced to see pictures of the autopsies, in other words, we were forced to be tortured on the grounds of justice. There were many times when the pain was so great people had to leave the courtroom, there was also so much anger, there were times when people needed to be restrained.
Let me explain, this kid had absolutely no remorse for what he had done. In fact, he looked bored with the whole thing. When given a chance to speak for himself, he didn't even issue an apology. Wouldn't that make you angry? Does that make you angry? He had still not learned the consequences of his actions. Fortunately, we declined the plea bargain his lawyer was offering, all the families of the deceased and that of the one who survived, decided to leave it up to the people of the jury. I am glad to say they, the jury, did not disappoint us. He received 24 years, 19 without the chance for parole. Maybe he'll have time to think about his actions in those 19 years,
I hope only he will be able to see, not only did he screw up his life but that he forever changed the lives of those families whose loved ones he murdered. Yes, murdered. He was tried and convicted of vehicular manslaughter.
A Mother's Words to the Court
Save A Life
Consider all the thinks I've detailed in this artile and save a life, maybe your own. Next time you feel like 'you've got it" remember that you could destroy a life and a family.
Please don't drink and drive.
CommentsLoading...
thank you Cagsil. I hope it can help people understand better.
It infuriates me that such a person would have no remorse whatsoever, hopefully he will during those years he serves in jail. Some people, though, never have it to begin with, nor do they ever acquire it.
I am so very sorry for your loss.
Thank you for a very heart felt but sad hub, thank you for sharing it. creativeone59
Awesome!
I hope this makes an impression on somebody out there who drinks and drives.
Mom- thank you for the comment.
Happygirl- I certainly hope it does, thank you for the comment.
Misty I am very sure...This was extremely hard to write about.(great pics)I hope is that...thru our pain others will think before they drink and drive or let a friend drive off after they have had too much to drink. You said it very well (I heard a couple of tears fall). Thanks for getting the word out there. Casey would have wanted that. Sorry for the late response--I only opened it this am. Love you --in my heart and in my prayers, Ms Diane
This is so touching, I admire you.
My blessings goes out to you, thanks for the connection
Thanks for the comment Siotosh, it was very hard to write beacause it was a very personal subject but if I can get the point across to at least one person, then maybe I have saved a life.
Di- I know this was very hard to read, as it was about your son. I appreciate you allowing me to use him as an example and for letting me use your letter to the court. I hope people read this and think twice before they get on the road and kill someone or themselves. Casey was not just a statistic, he will never be a statistic to us, he will always be family and he will be forever missed. I love you.
For those of you who are wondering who Diane is please visit: http://hubpages.com/hub/trulyblessed
Lorlie, thank you for your comment, I don't know how I missed it, and yes, it was more than infuriating, it was plain mental torture.
For those of you who have offered condolences and blessing I have passed them along to Casey's mom and his brother, my husband. We are all very grateful.
Please help me spread the word, send your friends or family to this hub. Please don't drink and drive.
so very touching. i still remember the night shaun told me about him losing his brother...it's still so vivid. remarkable family... can't write anymore, in tears here.
kimmy- thank you for the comment, I did not mean to make you cry. I know it seems very personal to you since you have been there from the get go and from your own experiences, for which I am truly sorry, we have tried to remain strong but it's still tough. My best to you and yours.
This is heartbreaking, misty. I understand your feeling of anger and the what ifs and the maybes. I can't say anything that will sooth your pain, only I'm with you.
I was looking through your hubs for your poetry, and although I've not found them yet, I'm happy to say your hubs are awesome. They'll be on my reading list.
People come and go in and out of hubpages. But please promise me something. You stay here. With us. :)
Pacal- thank you for the comment. I plan on staying put here on hubpages for a long time.
A dear friend of mine lost both her daughter and son-in-law in a New Year's eve wreck where a drunk driver hit them head on. She got to raise two grandbabies. She became the president of the regional M.A.D.D. organization and leads the way to educate people about the hazards of drunk driving.
I know someone else that got involved in a similar program after his one son was killed by a drunk driver. Some years later, another son of his ironically killed someone when he was drunk driving. That father is shattered. He just can't comprehend losing one son to alcohol only to have another son kill someone else in his stupidity. It went against everything he was teaching to others. Drunk driving is devasting to so many....the victims, and the survivors.
KCC- thank you for the comment, it is devestating to everyone involved and I am saddened to hear about your friends who lost their lives to this. I am glad your friend is out there trying to show people and teach people what it's like and how to avoid it. As for the father, my heart breaks for him because it is the survivors who hurt so much, who feel the loss, who know the pain, forever. Again, thank you for the comment. It was truly touching.
Cagsil Level 7 Commenter 2 years ago
A very nice hub to publish. I no longer drink, but it's still helpful to those who do. Thank you for sharing again.