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The choice to drive drunk can destroy lives in an instant. On September 7, 2017, my husband Bill and I were enjoying a vacation in Las Vegas when a drunk driver slammed into our rental car at approximately 80 miles per hour. The impact was so violent that I genuinely believed I wouldn't survive. Our world transformed in that moment—from carefree vacation to a 20-month nightmare of physical recovery, emotional trauma, and an exhausting fight for justice.

This is my annual re-release of my story about the crash and subsequent events, including the dramatic courtroom scene.  

What makes this story particularly devastating is what we discovered months later. The driver who hit us had a blood alcohol level of 0.25%, more than three times the legal limit. Even more shocking, just two months after our crash, she received another DUI—this time with her baby in the car and a blood alcohol level of 0.49%, just below what medical professionals consider potentially fatal. These weren't mistakes; they were catastrophic choices that endangered countless lives.

The aftermath tested us in ways we never imagined. Bill required a second neck fusion surgery when we discovered the crash had shifted a vertebra that was "literally hanging by a thread." Had it given way, he would have been paralyzed. Meanwhile, I developed PTSD symptoms while driving—panic attacks triggered by screeching brakes or tailgating vehicles. The legal system offered little comfort, requiring relentless advocacy just to be heard. When we finally reached the sentencing hearing after nearly two years, both Bill and I delivered emotional victim impact statements before the driver received a 12-48 month sentence.

Every year since that day, I've shared our story publicly because I believe it matters. With over 12,000 people dying from alcohol-impaired driving crashes in the US in 2023 alone, these aren't just statistics—they represent real lives forever altered or ended. If retelling our experience prevents even one person from making the deadly choice to drive impaired, then reliving this trauma is worth it. Remember our story the next time you're faced with the decision to drive after drinking. Every day truly is a gift, especially when you've come so close to losing everything.

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