Groom, Best Man and Ring-Bearer, Killed

April 19, 2009

23-year-old Brandon Tedder, 19-year-old Brandon Mintz and 13-year-old Daniel Skyes all died while enroute to Tedder's wedding. 43-year-old John Daniel Kelly was driving drunk when he crossed the center line and slammed into the other car, killing the young groom and his attendants.

View the news video:

http://www.news14.com/content/local_news/coastal/608032/accident-claims-life-of-groom--2-attendants/Default.aspx

Drunk Driver Causes Death Of A Baby

Dec. 2008

Shannon Baierl, age 32, struck a vehicle head on that was carrying 7 month old Karen Garcia. Fox 11 online.com reported that Baierl received 6 months in jail and probation. Read the article for more details.

Drunk Driver Sentenced to 10 Years Probation For Crash That Killed Woman

March, 2009
Douglas Wassmann was sentenced to 10 years probation and an $18,000 fine for the 2007 drunk driving crash that caused the death of Diana Sievers who was 30 years old.

Wassmann expressed his sorrow for Sievers' death. Sievers' father said that her family doesn't want to condemn him for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Read the report.

Woman Is Found Guilty Of DUI In Crash That Killed Two Teens

March 21, 2009

Anrietta "Monique" Geske was found guilty on 5 counts for which she could receive 182 1/2 years in prison for the deaths of two eighteen year olds, Ashley Britsch-Knetzger and Tahlia Heroux.

Fox 11 Online.com reported that:
Jurors found Geske guilty on two counts of first degree reckless homicide, two counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, and one count of first degree reckless endangerment.

Geske's sentencing date has been set for May.

Man Charged With 21 Counts After Killing A Family Of 5

March 24, 2009
Richard Powell crashed into a car carrying Joel Rivas, his son Nicandro, and his three daughters, Karen, Elina and Nancy. Karen and Elina, 15 and 16 years old were pregnant.

Read the news story.

Record Breaking Arrests On St. Patrick's Day Holiday

March, 2009
Colorado police performed a 5 day crack down on drunk driving making 661 arrests. During that time period there were 4 dui deaths.

From KKTV.com:
“It’s clear that we have a consistent problem that is not going away, despite our constant warnings and reminders about the consequences of drinking and driving...”

“Not only are the families of these victims devastated, but another 661 people face the stigma of committing the crime of DUI, as well as expenses exceeding $10,000, and the loss of their driving freedom. It’s time to put an end to drunk driving for good,” said Col. James Wolfinbarger, chief of the Colorado State Patrol.

Soccer Player Kills A Man While Driving Drunk

March 8, 2009
Philadelphia Kixx soccer player, Matthew J. Maher, rear ended a minivan driven by 55 year old Hort Kap. The crash killed Mr. Kap, leaving him partially ejected from his vehicle.

Maher has been charged with DUI and aggrevated manslaughter. According to NJ.com,"That charge is considered a first-degree offense and carries a jail term of 10 to 30 years and a $200,000 fine."


Watch the news clip:
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Kixx_Player_Accused_of_Deadly_DUI_Philadelphia.html

Marine Drives Drunk After Military DUI Briefing

It was reported on March 19, 2009, that in 2008 a Marine drove drunk hours after a military briefing about the dangers of DUI. Because the Marine drove after several other Marines tried to prevent him from driving, Lance Cpl. Elijah Ferguson has been charged with murder instead of manslaughter.

His victims were Dr. Micheal Sein (a radiologist who was killed) and his wife (who was injured in the rear end collision.)

Former Drunk Driver Who Caused His Brother's Death, Warns Teens

It was reported by KWPI 6 that students at Idaho Falls High School were warned about the perils of drunk driving by Jason Barber. Barber was convicted of manslaughter 18 years ago. Though he was charged with a 6 year sentence he served nearly 4 years in prison for the death of his younger brother, Aaron.

Jason says drunk driving is not an accident, but a choice that is completely preventable. He has a website: www.itsnotanaccident.com

Woman Kills 4 Teens On Their Way To Get Pizza

March 19, 2009

It has been reported that Forty-seven year old, Fran Dingle, who killed four teens while driving intoxicated met with her attorney. Her attorney stated that Dingle, who is under suicide watch, had fought the disease of alcoholism for years and she is very emotional.



The four teens were on their way out to get pizza at around 8 p.m. were crashed into while at a stop light. The community has reached out to the families helping to raise funds to cover funeral expenses.

The names and ages of the victims:

19 Devon Spurlock, 15 Erica Haudek, 16 Stephanie Currie, and 16 Jordan Michalak

Watch the news coverage of the fund raiser and listen to the words of the victims' family and friends:
http://www.wxyz.com/news/local/story/Giving-Out-of-Grief/cBYR7AIGE06hQUVN_hUhpw.cspx

24 Year Old Drunk Driver Receives 5 Yr. Sentence

Twenty-four year old, Elizabeth Renee Rhodes, killed Margaret "Maggie" Lopez on New Year's Eve 2008. On March 19, 2009 it was reported that she received a 5 year sentence for Lopez's death.

At the trial her family spoke in court. Her eldest son spoke of his family's heartbreak over losing a mentor and doting grandmother.

Her middle son shared his feelings, "I know whatever punishment there is won't bring my mother back. ... When you take a life, you have to pay the consequences for it."

NFL Wide Receiver Kills Pedestrian

Donte Stallworth, a Clevlend Brown's wide receiver, struck and killed a 59 year old pedestrian on Saturday morning in Miami, Florida. Mario Reyes, a 59 year old construction worker was walking home from work when Stallworth struck him with his Bentley. His blood alcohol level was reportedly .12, which is above the legal limit of .o8 according to Miami’s WSVN - FOX 7.

According to CBS4.com, Reyes had worked all night long as a crane operator and was crossing the street to catch a bus home. He was "a family man," married for 20 years and a father of a 15 year old girl.

Stallworth, who issued a statement Wednesday stating that he is "grief stricken" over the accident, is expected to face DUI manslaughter charges.

If only Stallworth had arranged for a driver or called someone to pick him up, a life would not have been tragically lost.

Have A Safe St. Patrick's Day

This poster was created by DUI Victims Voice in conjunction with the following Flickr.com photographers:


1. No Survivors, 2. Luck is..., 3. St. Patrick himself, 4. Kiss Me!!!!!, 5. happy st patty's day, 6. St Patrick's Day, 7. St. Patty's Day 2007, the gang, 8. Schuuulz, 9. Four Leaf Clover 068, 10. How one celebrates St Patrick's Day, Part 1, 11. Go Irish! Go Green!, 12. Green Beer Goggles, 13. St Patrick's Day (5)

DUI Victims' Parents Talk

April 2005.

Seven-year-old Alana Pack and her 10-year-old brother Troy were killed by a repeat drunk driver. Their parents, Bob and Carmen Pack, discussed the case on The Early Show.

"The day-to-day living can be extremely difficult," said Bob Pack.

"I wake up with the sound that I heard. The sound of the car hitting my childrens' skooter and bike in front of my eyes," said Carmen Pack.

Watch the emotional video:
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=688783n

4 Year Old Boy Killed On Easter

March 2008,

Elias Anthony Pico, just 4 years old, died when his car seat was ejected from the car he was riding in. His family was about to turn into a relative's driveway when the drunk driver, Stephen Watson, slammed into their car at 60 miles an hour. The driver tried to flee after the crash but family members caught him and held him until the police arrived.

Watch the news video:
http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=6043944
http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=6036599

Read about it:
http://www.robertreevesblog.com/tp-070822150332/post-080325144107.shtml

Teen Receives 8-16 Years for DUI

April, 2006
Kyle Kaylor, 18, was sentenced to prison for the deaths of Amanda Schultz and Mike Cummings.

Watch the news video:
http://cbs3.com/video/?id=34829@kyw.dayport.com

Read the news articles:
http://www.mcall.com/sports/highschool/all-palmercrashstories,0,1908072.storygallery

Obituaries:
Amanda
http://www.mcall.com/sports/highschool/all-schultzobit0307,0,1808899.story
Mike
http://www.mcall.com/sports/highschool/all-cummingsobit0307,0,1376604.story

Pennsylvania Memorial Garden

Two Teens Killed Within One Week In Seperate DUI Crashes

"If anything comes out of this it may be the recognition that we all have to be careful we the choices that we make..." (great uncle of Eric Messick)

December, 2007

Evan Welch, a high school senior, was killed after he and his friends drank and drove. The driver Daniel Friedman crashed into a tree.

One week later, Eric Messick attended Evan's funeral. Hours later Eric was also killed by a drunk driver.

Read the news articles and the news videos:
Eric Messick:
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/112-12152007-1456834.html

Eric Messick and Evan Welch:
http://cbs3.com/topstories/Eric.Messick.Moorestown.2.614557.html
http://cbs3.com/video/?id=50073@kyw.dayport.com
http://cbs3.com/video/?id=50068@kyw.dayport.com

Evan Welch:
http://cbs3.com/local/Welch.Accident.Fatal.2.607116.html
http://cbs3.com/video/?id=49618@kyw.dayport.com
http://cbs3.com/video/?id=49637@kyw.dayport.com

http://www1.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/112-06132008-1548764.html
http://www.nj.com/south/index.ssf/2007/12/moorestown_teen_dies_after_dru.html

Memorial For the "Eight"

This poster was created by DUI Victims Voice in conjunction with the following Flickr.com photographer: Gregor y

This memorial was erected in memory of eight University of Wyoming cross country runners killed by a drunken driver in 2001. The father of Shane Shatto built the cross. Their killer, Clint Haskins, (also a university student) was convicted and sentenced to 14-20 years.

A poem written by their teammate who was not with them at the time of the crash:

It seems of late,

That you crested a hill

And I cannot climb.

You have taken a path,

And I cannot follow.

If I seek the courage

To mimic your stride,

Perhaps upon a day

When my spikes have been hung,

We shall rise again

For another run.

Read these articles to find out more about the young men and the impact of their deaths:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/other/2002-09-09-wyoming_x.htm

http://www.gillettenewsrecord.com/articles/2007/01/21/news/news05.txt

http://wyomingathletics.cstv.com/sports/c-track/spec-rel/080608aab.html

http://home.comcast.net/~uwtrack/the_eight.htm