Friday, May 30, 2008

Kelly Laine, Forever 18



http://www.myspace.com/kelli_laine_doa

Drunk Driving is NOT an Accident



The Death of Danielle Romero was no accident:

Driving drunk is no accident.
It's a tragedy we can all prevent.

Danielle Romero was anxious to visit a friend,
But a drunk driver brought her life to an end.

On this fateful day if someone had only prevented this drunk from taking a careless drive,
A mother, father, sisters and friends wouldn't be suffering as Danielle would be alive.

In her final moments Danielle said a final prayer and to her Rosary she clung.
If you stop a drunk driver by hiding the keys, someone else won't die so young.

Let there be no mistake, the untimely death of Danielle Romero was no accident.
It's time to stop these thoughtless drunks from killing those who are heaven sent.

Danielle is gone but let her death give life to a movement that will protect others.
Prevent drunk drivers from getting behind the wheel and bringing grief to mothers.

It sounded like a bomb, a police officer had this look on his face, some of the painful memories that Danielle's mom must endure.
She wouldn't wake up, but will those who know drunk drivers wake up,
to stop the terror of alcoholics your actions are the only cure.

Written by Yoopernewsman

Visit for more info:
http://www.myspace.com/ciboladwi

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

A Sunny Saturday Afternoon Drunk Driving Story

A sunny Saturday afternoon.
Chores to do, sweep the garage.
A truck's engine revs out on the street.
Think, "That's odd - the road ends soon."
"They oughtta be slowing down by now."
Screech, thump, silence.
Motor cranks, won't start.
Walk a few yards down the street.
See pick-up truck that bounced off the end of the t-intersection.
Hood crinkled, radiator hissing.
"You guys need help?"
Engine still won't catch.
Driver gets out, has bloody nose.
"You guys okay?"
"Hit my nose on the steering wheel."
"What about him?"
"Aww, man! My friend..."
He's slumped over on the seat.
Reach in through driver's door.
"What's his name?""Jimmy."
"Hey Jimmy, can you hear me?"
No answer.
"Jimmy, you okay?"
Silence.
Gotta check his pulse.
Can't reach his arms.
Passenger-side windshield has a head imprint.
First-aid checklist kicking in.
Probable neck injuries, be careful.
Feel around his neck.
Hmm, he's a big guy, can't find pulse.
"Jimmy, can you hear me?"
Not sure if he's breathing.
No room in the cab to check.
Driver is stunned, sits on curb.
He reeks of booze.
Neighbour approaching on the run.
Tell him, "Call 9-1-1!"
"Car crash, serious injuries."
He sends his kid to get blankets.
"We gotta get this guy outta here."
Neck's probably broken, but he's not breathing.
Gotta move him.
Life over limb.
We open passenger door.
Open liquor on the floor of the cab.
Jimmy is heavy, hard to grab.
Smells like booze.
Lean in, heave and pull.
Lower Jimmy carefully onto the blankets on the ground.
Check for pulse.
Still none.
Am I doing this right?
"Where's the ambulance? - this is bad."
Someone dials again.
Gotta breathe for this guy.
Geez this is scary.
Sirens approaching.
Motorcycle cop rolls up.
I've done what I can...Haven't I?
Should be breathing into this guy.
More sirens.
Ambulance arrives.
They begin to work on Jimmy.
There's still no response...But lots of questions.
"Did you see what happened?"
Hope Jimmy's okay.
But I doubt he is.
They couldn't have been going very fast.
But fast enoughAnd no seatbelt.
How can the driver only have a busted noseand Jimmy's laying there with a broken neck?
Our street is only one block long.
The ambulance crew is working on him.
They take him away.
Hope he's okay.
He would have been okay, if he'd worn his seatbelt.
And the driver hadn't been drunk.
Jesus, he should be looking under the hood and telling his friend the radiator's shot.
But he's in the bus, and someone's gonna get the phone call later on saying Jimmy's gone.
I didn't know him.
But someone will miss him.
A sunny Saturday afternoon.
It could have been different.

by Rob deLange
May 2008

Sudden Impact: Drunk Driving

Tom Brokaw looks at the tragic cost of drunk driving.
More Drunk Driving accidents occur around New Years Eve.

43 min. long. Excellent documentary.

Memorial Day, More DUI

There is a greater incidence of DUI on holidays. The following article lends proof:

The following poster was created by DUI Vitim's Voice in response to Memorial Day DUI.


This poster was created by Susana Fierro-Baig for DUI VictimsVoice.webs.com in conjunction with the following photographers:

1. Time for Illustrative Photos, 4. Red ZZ4, 5. the grilling, 6. A Pogo Stick, 7. ben1, 8. Highway 35 Arrest, 9. Memorial Day Fireworks2, 10. It was Memorial day...., 11. DSC_0314, 12. Memorial Day, 13. Veterans Memorial

Click here to view larger version.

I like how it conveys that people are FREE (because of our constitution and countrymen/women who have served in our military) to celebrate our national holidays, but they are not free to put people's lives at risk, (and they may lose their freedom if they do.)

There are terrible consequences for those who drive drunk or even "buzzed." They can lose their license and be jailed/imprisoned, but the ultimate consequence is their own injury/death and even worse, injuring or killing others.

In making these posters I have found that they kind of take on a life of their own, and with each one I have been awed at how they have turned out and how much meaning is there that I hadn't initially intended or realized.

I especially love it that so many photographers have a cc license on their incredible photos. I am so grateful to them, and to those photographers who have permitted me to use their copyrighted photos.

It is a wonderful country that we live in!!

P.S Photo #7 of "Ben" is a real photo of a man who recently injured himself while drunk driving. Join me in praying for his family and for his recovery. I hope no one else was injured and that he will get the help he needs to never put lives in jeopardy again.