She Chased Him: How Impaired Driving Changed Our Lives

The Christmas lights were twinkling in our Suburban during the early morning hours of January 6, 2018. My mom had always decorated the interior with festive garlands and lights to create a sense of magic for the season, no matter where we traveled. I was behind my dad as he drove me to my basketball game, my head down, while my sister sat beside me in her booster seat. Suddenly, I heard my mom yell, “God help us.” Glass shattered in the car in what seemed like slow motion. I could see individual shards, and my phone appeared to float in front of me. There was a loud explosion, the car jolted sideways, and then silence. In that moment, I was filled with uncertainty. At just 12 years old, I wondered if I was about to lose my entire family.

The next thing I remember was a strong, unpleasant odor, the interior of the car taking on an unusual hue, my shoes missing, and a fear that the vehicle might be on fire. My mom turned to face us, her lips moving, but I could not hear her words. She opened my sister’s door and said we had to get out of this car. I attempted to open my own door, only to notice blades of grass covered in snow near the floorboard. My door had been torn open at the bottom but was stuck. When my mom saw the door, the glass scattered throughout the car, and my missing shoes, she lifted us from the vehicle, under the side-curtain airbag, and set us down on the snowy ground, telling us to not move. Although everything felt muffled, I could hear my dad yelling at someone. My mom turned, her long red hair flowing behind her, glass fragments shimmering as she ran down a hill chasing him—the individual who had chosen to drive under the influence that day and was now attempting to run from his mistakes. Our car had lost its wheels and axles on the driver’s side, and rescuers later stated that we should have all been dead. Neighbors emerged from their homes; an elderly woman approached and stood with us while our parents and a kind stranger escorted this man back up the hill.

My sister and I stood with paramedics, watching this disheveled man, his dark hair falling over his face as he looked at the ground and repeatedly said, “I’m sorry.” I only thought, sorry he got caught. Despite the heightened emotions, we observed our parents demonstrate kindness towards someone who had nearly taken our lives. When you ask my mom about that day now, she simply states that after stopping him, she could only think of him as someone’s son—a young man who had made a grave mistake—and she believed that responding with anger and pain would not be the solution. Ultimately, we all left the hospital that day with scrapes and bruises, but forever changed by the experience. Some may refer to it as luck; we consider ourselves spared, destined to pursue something greater in life, to make a meaningful impact, and to continue creating memories. As for the man who hit us, perhaps he too was afforded a second chance to change his life, though such a chance should not come without consequences.

While mistakes are a part of life, there are measures that can be implemented to help reduce roadway accidents and fatalities. The individual who collided with us served only a few nights in jail, failed to appear in court, neglected his responsibilities, and was ultimately arrested again over a year later for driving under the influence. It is evident that he did not grasp the gravity of the incident. He did not change and persisted in engaging in reckless behavior with little regard for others. This is where I believe that not only should we enforce stricter and more immediate penalties for impaired, reckless, and distracted drivers, particularly for high-risk offenders, but we should enhance public awareness and implement better instruction for driver education.

In obtaining my own license, while we did have to spend a significant number of hours behind the wheel, simply reading a small manual to pass the written driving test and completing approximately ten minutes in a car with an instructor does not provide the knowledge needed to safely operate a car—or give any deterrent for poor decision making. The picture needs to be bigger when teaching drivers ed and the material covered more exhaustive. I believe real life examples of driving impaired, distracted, speeding, all things that can cause life changing accidents should be included. A legal portion should be discussed to include state laws, penalties, fines, and potential jail for certain infractions. Additionally, implementing real-life stories of those who have been impacted by poor driving or punished for breaking driving laws would be beneficial. So many of us, especially young drivers, assume we are invincible or that this won’t happen to us. Nothing could be further from the truth.

According to the 2023 report from our state’s Transportation Cabinet, highway fatalities increased to 813 deaths, up from 744 in 2022, marking the highest rate in seven years. Of these fatalities, 51% involved unrestrained drivers and/or passengers, and 16% were related to alcohol. Approximately 33% involved speeding or aggressive driving behaviors, while 20% were linked to driver distraction. It is crucial for drivers to recognize that this issue transcends mere accidents causing delays or damaged vehicles; it impacts real lives and families. All individuals who hold a driver’s license or operate a vehicle must understand the significant responsibility they bear while driving. Their reactions, focus, emotions, and decisions prior to driving can profoundly affect lives in an instant. Enhancing driver education, including requirements for obtaining a license, community outreach, and educational efforts at traffic stops, are important steps in reducing accidents. I believe that informed drivers will inherently be better drivers.

Over the years, I have shared my story and photos with classmates, teachers, and coaches. My hope is that my experience will resonate first with those who know me. By hearing that, in an instant, my seat next to them could have been empty, my jersey no longer worn, or my sister and I orphaned due to a poor, selfish choice made by a stranger, I hope it will alter their own driving habits. As for me, I am acutely aware of how I drive, especially when I am responsible for others in my car. In the end, our family has been touched by this accident, my mom likely the most. She worries about us when we travel, is hypersensitive to cars around us, and experiences anxiety that she never had before; I see that every now and then. I believe that most everyone only wants the gift of time—time to enjoy hobbies and spend with those they love—nothing is more precious than this gift and I know this is why my mom chased the driver who almost took something from her. As we move forward in our days, let’s not take that from anyone.