Very few things really shock me. Texas Department of Transportation is running an ad campaign that made me gasp and even fear driving. Those of you that know me know I love driving. Drinking… I’ve never been a fan of drinking. In fact I’ve never had a drink in my life because I just don’t see the need for it. I will always be a DD and I will always be there for someone that needs a ride home. Hopefully others will see this ad and will see how devastating drinking and driving can be. Please pass this story on to friends and family.
Poster
http://texasdwi.org/images/jacqui_poster.jpg
Story
http://texasdwi.org/jacqui.html
Poster
http://texasdwi.org/images/jacqui_poster.jpg
High Bandwidth Video
http://texasdwi.org/multimedia/zero_0100.mpg
Low Bandwidth Video
http://texasdwi.org/multimedia/zero_0100_1m.mpg
Early on Sunday morning, September 19, 1999, Jacqueline Saburido, 20, and four friends were on their way home from a birthday party. Reggie Stephey, an 18-year-old star football player, was on his way home from drinking beer with some buddies. On a dark road on the outskirts of Austin, Texas, Reggie?s SUV veered into the Oldsmobile carrying Jacqui and the others. Two passengers in the car were killed at the scene and two were rescued. Within minutes, the car caught fire. Jacqui was pinned in the front seat on the passenger side. She was burned over 60% of her body; no one thought she could survive. But Jacqui lived. Her hands were so badly burned that she no longer can use them. She lost her hair, her ears, her nose, her left eyelid and much of her vision. She has had more than 40 operations since the crash and has many more to go.
In June 2001 Reggie Stephey was convicted of two counts of intoxication manslaughter for the deaths of Jacqui?s two friends. He was sentenced to seven years in prison and fined $20,000.