“ The victim is very badly injured and the - Forget Me Not Mission
“ The victim is very badly injured and the - Forget Me Not Mission
“ The victim is very badly injured and the - Forget Me Not Mission
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Good Samaritan.”<br />
it.” Revolted, <strong>the</strong> neighbor seeks a phone at a nearby<br />
residence, <strong>and</strong> calls <strong>the</strong> Troopers. <strong>The</strong> boy dies,<br />
<strong>and</strong> a community nightmare begins to unfold. <strong>The</strong><br />
community comes out, angry <strong>and</strong> upset. Still, several<br />
more DUI deaths <strong>“</strong>happen” that summer.<br />
<strong>The</strong> family <strong>and</strong> friends are devastated. <strong>The</strong><br />
ugly court battle begins, but thank God for <strong>the</strong> Good<br />
Samaritan. Finally, a plea bargain <strong>and</strong> a 20-year<br />
sentence. <strong>The</strong>n, two re-sentencings after appeals are<br />
granted. Finally, four-plus years after <strong>the</strong> crime, <strong>the</strong><br />
20-year sentence <strong>is</strong> essentially upheld. But, <strong>the</strong>re are<br />
no winners in that courtroom – just lots <strong>and</strong> lots of<br />
sadness, all <strong>the</strong> way around ... It didn’t have to be th<strong>is</strong><br />
way. Th<strong>is</strong> should not have happened.<br />
Many people could have stopped th<strong>is</strong> drunk<br />
driver – he was likely legally drunk <strong>very</strong> quickly. But<br />
did any of h<strong>is</strong> companions stop him? No, <strong>the</strong>y enabled<br />
him, <strong>and</strong> ignored h<strong>is</strong> frightful behavior. Maybe it<br />
mirrors <strong>the</strong>ir own, or maybe <strong>the</strong>y just don’t see <strong>the</strong><br />
danger. After all, an awful lot of people do th<strong>is</strong>, so<br />
what’s <strong>the</strong> big deal?<br />
A couple of ironies to end <strong>the</strong> story. One of <strong>the</strong><br />
last people to interact with <strong>the</strong> drunk driver, at h<strong>is</strong> last<br />
stop, was a person who sold him a raffle ticket for some<br />
kids group. So, he buys a ticket to support <strong>the</strong> kids.<br />
<strong>The</strong>n he drives off, horribly drunk, ... <strong>and</strong> kills a child.<br />
<strong>The</strong> real irony? As awful as th<strong>is</strong> story <strong>is</strong>, th<strong>is</strong><br />
man wasn’t even convicted of a DUI. <strong>The</strong> DUI charge<br />
(.237 BAC!) was dropped in <strong>the</strong> plea bargain (homicide<br />
to manslaughter). So, th<strong>is</strong> boy’s tragic death <strong>is</strong>n’t<br />
even ano<strong>the</strong>r DUI stat<strong>is</strong>tic. Just a horrible crime (an<br />
<strong>“</strong>accident,” <strong>the</strong>y’d like you to believe), <strong>and</strong> a <strong>“</strong>rest of <strong>the</strong><br />
story.”<br />
Now, you think th<strong>is</strong> – any of th<strong>is</strong> – couldn’t<br />
happen to you or a friend or loved one? Well think<br />
again.<br />
Don’t drink <strong>and</strong> drive. Don’t let o<strong>the</strong>rs drink<br />
<strong>and</strong> drive. And teach your kids.<br />
Pete Eagan<br />
CRASH DETAILS<br />
Victim:<br />
Date:<br />
Location:<br />
Drunk Driver:<br />
Blood-Alcohol<br />
Level:<br />
<strong>“</strong>Take th<strong>is</strong> day to consider that 421 Alaskans were killed by drunk drivers<br />
from 1995-2005. Our communities <strong>and</strong> families will never be <strong>the</strong> same<br />
without <strong>the</strong>m.” (Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell)<br />
Saul Stutz<br />
05-23-2005<br />
Goldstream Rd.,<br />
Fairbanks<br />
E. Bottcher<br />
.237<br />
Saul’s High School-<br />
Graduation<br />
108
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