Orphans and Hit & Run

She was 23 years old - a young mother who was merely crossing Main Street in Buffalo with her son. Within seconds she was killed. Amanda Knowlton and her son Isiah were innocent victims of a drunk driver, just like my sister. They were struck by a 21 year old - Christopher Tulumello of Amherst. Here's a link to the Buffalo News article. Police and witnesses say he didn't have the guts to stick around - he fled the scene, and was arrested hours later. He sped through a red light, struck Knowlton and her son, and kept going.

The anger I'm feeling right now is hard to put into words. Isiah Knowlton and his baby brother Sammy are orphans. Amanda's life was snuffed out way too early - just like Karen's. A drunk driver who made a bad choice and now a young woman is dead.

It's hard to feel remorse for Christopher and his family, even after reading what his mother says about him. If he was an adult with a conscience, he would not have fled the scene. He's facing several charges including DWI, vehicular manslaughter, vehicular assault, and leaving the scene of an accident. I understand the judge set bail at $500,000. Is that the price of a young woman's life?

My thoughts and prayers go out to Amanda's family and friends...and those two young boys.

As for Christopher - I hope you learn your lesson and that justice will be served.


Deanna

P.S. I continue my road to recovery after lung surgery. The key is to rest and not to overdo it. That's my prescription.

Update from Deanna

I was recently diagnosed with lung cancer and am at home recovering from surgery. I'll be back to work on CAID's mission as soon as I am physically able.

To stay up to date with my progress, be sure to check out the YourHub blog.

Thanks,

Deanna

Lawyer Pleads Guilty in Hit & Run Accident: My Take

Guilty. He's admitted to hitting a Hilbert College student and fleeing the scene, and just a couple days ago John Duffy stood before a judge in State Supreme Court. Duffy pleaded guilty to a felony charge of leaving the scene of a fatal accident in connection with the death of Meghan Sobrera.

Sobrera was killed just a few weeks ago on South Park Avenue in Hamburg. She was on her way back from working at the Hamburg Fairgrounds, and was walking to Hilbert with friends when she was fatally struck by Duffy's SUV.

Police believe Duffy was drinking at the time of the crash, but they can't prove it because Duffy fled the scene and didn't turn himself in until 5 days later.

Duffy should be ashamed of himself. By fleeing the scene, he failed to take responsibility for his actions. The sentence that he now faces is 2 1/2 to 7 years for fleeing the scene of the crash. He's going to be disbarred.

He's an attorney who is using the law to his benefit. Even though Duffy's attorney continues to defend his client saying he thought he hit a garbage can, I say Duffy's not stupid, he knew that if he struck someone and fled the scene he'd face a lesser charge than if he stopped and took responsiblity for his actions.

Duffy's sending a message to others, "Hey, if you're drinking and driving and get into a crash, you can run, and you will get away on a lesser charge".

Shame on him and shame on anyone who is involved in a drinking and driving crash who doesn't take responsibility for his or her actions.


Deanna

CAID Prepares To Take Message to Area Colleges

Next week, Crusade Against Impaired Driving, Inc. will be taking our message to area college campuses.

It's National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week, and CAID (Deanna) has been invited to speak to students at Hilbert, Buffalo State, and Trocaire College. We will share Karen's story with students and drive home the message that drinking and driving is preventable and is a choice.

If you want to read more about what's going on in Deanna's life right now, click here.

Deanna

1...2...3...6 Strikes. How many is it going to take?

Not 1 or 2...but 6...that's how many "second chances" an Amherst woman has received. Now she's headed to prison for the next 1-3 years. The judge in the case called her "a DWI fatality waiting to happen" Here's a link to The Buffalo News article. After reading it, I agree with the judge.

Before I go on with this blog, why did I say six "second chances"? Because every time someone drives drunk, they are taking lives in their hands. I look at the DWI arrest as a "second chance" because no one was hurt or killed. Sure it costs money - fines, court fees, insurance goes up, etc. but no one was seriously hurt or maimed in the crash.

Deborah Mitchum, a 44 year old restaurant manager, received the sentence earlier this week after she was charged with her sixth DWI in nine years. She was also fined more than $1,800. It boggles my mind how someone can be so irresponsible. She really is a threat to everyone on the roads, because she hasn't learned her lesson...and keeps doing it over and over again.

Mitchum's attorney wanted her to go to counseling and spend weekends in jail. I'm glad the judge didn't give her that "slap on the wrist". In court, she claimed "she's too old for this now", yes Deborah, you are.

And you've been given a second chance that you can think about in jail.

Former Prosecutor & DWI

It's a case that CAID is watching very closely. Anne Adams, a former prosecutor is in the midst of a legal battle of her own...charged with aggravated DWI. She appears to be getting special treatment by our local courts.

Let's go back to all this started...
At the beginning of September, Adams, 46, was arrested by Hamburg police after she was stopped and on Route 5 in Hamburg. When police stopped her red Ford Thunderbird convertible (it was weaving from lane to lane and nearly struck a guardrail), she failed all four roadside sobriety tests and her BAC registered at 0.19 percent. She pleaded not guilty during her arraignment.

Two weeks ago, during her last court appearance, Adams' defense attorney and former Leonard Krawczyk said that Erie County District Attorney Frank Clark broke a “gentlemen’s agreement” in the case by leaking witnesses’ affidavits contained in a defense motion to get the case quickly dismissed. Meanwhile, Clark said he didn't break the agreement, saying he made the affidavits public at the arraignment. "They thought they would get this done under the radar, get it disposed of quickly and walk away. That’s not the way it’s done.”

This has definitely not been your typical DWI court case. A State Supreme Court justice, a police lieutenant and a doctor all filed legal papers saying Adams wasn’t drunk that night, and on the opposite side of the courtroom, three district attorneys were in the Hamburg courtroom, and Adams’ case was handled by two prosecutors who do not normally handle misdemeanor charges there.

Adams claims she had two glasses of wine and a water with lime at Shanghai Red's restaurant that night.

Here's a link to The Buffalo News report on Adams' most recent court appearance.

What are my thoughts on this case? I feel that if Adams did indeed drive drunk that night, she should be penalized like anyone else who's convicted of DWI. She doesn't deserve special treatment, and her case should not be treated any differently.

We'll be following this case, and what happens in the courtroom and we'll keep you updated.

Deanna

CAID Fall Update: Reaching out to Teens

Here's an update on what CAID has been up to in recent weeks...we're reaching out to teens in unique ways.

I've been working on an interesting project that will share Karen's story with more students in our area. Denis Foley is curator of "Friends Exhibit/Last Call" at the Lewis Henry Morgan Institute at the SUNY Institute of Technology in Albany. "Friends" is a traveling exhibition. Its funding is provided through the Governor's Traffic Safety Council, New York State Stop DWI Coordinators' Foundation, The Sheldon & Ruth Goldstein Foundation and the New York State Press Association Foundation.

So what is it? Here's a description taken from the Friends website:
The exhibition focuses on the lives of the victims prior to the crash, emphasizing individual histories through photos, possessions, interviews of victims’ friends and families, and audio and visual recordings. A timeline traces the events of the victims’ last day, including a detailed account of the crash itself. Along with the text of the timeline, quotes and artifacts that pertain to the crash are part of this section. The aftermath that the families, friends, police and community were left with is included as well. The combination of these elements creates an emotional reaction in observers, with the goal of behavioral change. This approach creates a powerful message that may deter students from driving after consuming alcohol.

The exhibit featuring Karen's story will travel to high schools across the county and it's going to be very impacting. I spoke with Denis about in depth about what type of person Karen was and what exactly happened on Friday night, March 6. It will include the things that meant the most to her and really defined what type of person she was. It'll also have letters, newspaper clippings, and the timeline of the crash. As always, we don't expect all teens to be impacted by this exhibit, but if one girl or guy takes a look at the exhibit and makes the choice not to drink and drive, then it'll be worth it.

STOP DWI and CAID are also working on producing a video PSA that will be distributed to all schools to use as part of their morning announcements. This will give students a weekly report of arrests, crashes, and incidents tied to drinking and driving in Erie County and how lives are impacted. We're also working on a video contest with Fox 29 where teens will be able to produce their own anti-DWI video PSA. We'll keep you posted on these projects as they develop.

The mission of CAID is to educate and we're moving full steam ahead in that mission and hopefully we'll save lives in the process.


Deanna

Kids Call Cops on Drunk Parents

It's a story that has me shaking my head in wonder...kids really are amazing. Even when their parents make stupid decisions, the youngest of children make the smart choices.

Check out this video and you'll see what I mean.

So what should happen to the drunk mom who tried to force her son to blow into the interlock device? How about public humiliation - like putting her name and picture on a billboard? How about taking her car away from her once and for all? That doesn't stop some people. The drunk driver who killed my sister wasn't even driving his car. Some people should not be driving at all.

Bad choices, it's what costs lives. Lives like my sister.

Kudos to kids and teens who make smart choices and call 911 when they witness their parents drinking and driving. Just goes to prove how kids are sometimes smarter than their moms and dads.


Deanna

More Pictures from the Tournament!

It's been two weeks since CAID's first annual softball tournament, and now that things are getting back to "normal", I'm happy to say we have more pictures from the event!

Here are some snapshots...and there are more pictures from the diamonds on the events page. Check out my Buffalo.com/YourHub blog too for some "behind the scene" stories.

Thanks again for supporting Crusade Against Impaired Driving, Inc.!

Deanna

Swing, a hit and a success!

Awesome!

I can't begin to say how pleased I was with the turn-out for CAID's first annual softball tourney that was held on Saturday at Sunshine Park in West Seneca.

To call it a success just seems like such a cliche. Not only did the weather cooperate for a terrific day, but everyone had a terrific time at the event.

It was a "one-pitch" tourney, and for many people that was a new thing. How it works is that the batter gets one pitch to swing at, and if he misses he's out. The "one pitch" really moved things along, and kept the games exciting too. It prevented teams from playing until 7, 8, or even 9 at night....and because of the timing of the rain on Saturday...it kept everyone dry too.

The Junkyard Dawgs beat the Best Buy team by a score of 7-2. We also had teams from The Buffalo News, Buffalo.com, a couple teams that were put together by Karen's friends, and a team of teens that was organized by my brother-in-law. A special thank you to all the teams for coming out and entertaining us all with great games of softball.

Our silent auction was also a success. One of the most popular prizes...a large stuffed dog was won by a very ecstatic young girl, and her twin sister won a sports prize with just one ticket!

Support from the volunteers, community, teams, and sponsors all contributed to make it a very successful event.

We raised over $3,000 to fight drunk driving on our roads, and that's not the final tally. Crusade Against Impaired Driving, Inc. is a young organization, and to have everyone rally behind our cause in the memory of my sister Karen really brought tears to my eyes.

I did a lot of the pre-planning for the tournament, but I couldn't have done it without the support of all the sponsors, teams, and a volunteers who helped in the days leading up to and on the day of the event. THANK YOU to everyone for all their help.

If you have suggestions, comments, or would like to play in next year's tournament, email me.

I look forward to a bigger and better tournament next year!


Until next time...

Deanna

Promoting the CAID Softball Tournament on Daybreak

I put on the softball gear and woke up bright and early Wednesday morning to talk about the CAID Softball Tournament on Channel 2's "Spot 2 Be" on Daybreak.

Let me say on the record, that meteorologist Chesley McNeil is just as nice off the air as he is on TV. We wake up watching Daybreak every morning.

My friend and tournament "helper" Cindy Henning and I were on the segment, and CAID appreciates everything WGRZ-TV does to help promote community events like the softball tournament. "Spot 2 Be" is a great segment.

Seven teams will be taking part in the "one-pitch" tournament on Saturday at Sunshine Park on East and West Road in West Seneca. The first game gets underway at 10am, and the championship game is scheduled for 4pm. A silent auction will be held with lots of great prizes and gift baskets. All proceeds go to Crusade Against Impaired Driving, Inc. For those who want to make this an "all-day" event, refreshments will also be sold.

Come enjoy some great softball, take a chance on some awesome prizes, and support a great cause!

Go to our events page to learn more and see the tournament brackets.

You're all invited!

Thanks,

Deanna

Changes in Erie County: Quicker DWI Convictions & One Man Who May Face 25 Years in Jail

Last Friday, I had heard that Pat Lakamp, a co-worker of mine, was working on a DWI article, but I was pleasantly surprised to see it in this morning's Buffalo News. This article proves that things are finally changing in courtrooms in Western New York. Prosecutors jobs are getting easier.

It points to a specific case - Brian Davis - who crashed into an oncoming car on July 5, the victim in that crash died two weeks later, now he could be the first in our area to be charged with aggravated vehicular manslaughter - he could get 25 years in prison if convicted. The drunk driver in my sister's case was charged with vehicular manslaughter. The difference is that aggravated vehicular manslaughter has only been on the books for the past two years. My sister's crash was 10 years ago (click here for Karen's story), so it wouldn't have been possible to charge him with the aggravated charge, but he may have been charged with it if it happened recently - that means he too could have been sentenced to 25 years in jail. He was sentenced to 5-15 years in jail, and was released this past June.

Meanwhile, back to the Davis case, he had been convicted of drunken driving five years ago and also was on parole for a weapons conviction. Two years ago, the D.A.'s office would have had to prove that Davis was criminally negligent at the time. Now after this Class B felony became effective, that burden's been lifted and they don't have to prove criminal negligence.

Not just that Class B felony - but Lakamp also points out the changes to the DWI law regarding the breath or blood test of .18% or higher - that triggers the aggravated vehicular assault or manslaughter charges and involve reckless driving, and again they don't have to prove criminal negligence.

Kudos to prosecutors like Lynn Reda in the D.A.'s office (I met her last week for the first time, and let me tell you she's dedicated to her job and to prosecuting DWI offenders to the fullest extent of the law) who are working tirelessly and quickly prosecuting DWI cases in our area.

As Lakamp clearly states in the article, fewer cases are slipping through the cracks or being given plea deals to less severe charges.

I am very impressed that cases that have taken months to get to the D.A.'s office are now taking just a week. What a difference.

As someone who fights against DWI in the community, I am happy to say that things are changing in our courtrooms, but we still have a long way to go, so the fight continues. If you'd like to contribute to this fight and to Crusade Against Impaired Driving, Inc. mark your calendar for August 9. That's when we'll be hosting the CAID Softball Tournament in West Seneca. Click here for more information.

Deanna

Eyewitness at a STOP DWI Checkpoint

We've heard about them on the news, some of us have driven through them in the past, but do you really know what goes on at a STOP DWI checkpoint?

I was able to witness one (actually two that went on simultaneously) first-hand on Friday night in the town of Evans. 17 officers from various departments - Tonawanda, West Seneca, Orchard Park, Erie County Sheriff's, and the State Police set up checkpoints on either side of the Sunset Bay bars.

It was an interesting thing to observe to say the least. For one, there's a very important procedure to follow (or the court case could be endangered) - so all officers were briefed on what to do, say, etc. at the beginning of the night. As drivers pulled through the checkpoint, they were informed of the purpose of the checkpoint, asked if they had been drinking, and most were allowed to pass.

Officers did pull over several cars and made several arrests, and I was able to witness a few of them. I can't get into the exact details of what happened here, but let's just say in some of the cases what began as a DWI arrest ended with a few more charges for the driver.

For me, this checkpoint was a step forward in better understanding the police officer's role in fighting DWI. Yes, arrests were made, but it's not yet clear how many of those arrested will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The next step is the court case, where the judge makes the final call on what will happen.

A special thank you to all the officers and STOP DWI who extended a warm welcome to Crusade Against Impaired Driving, Inc. It was a long night for yours truly, but well worth it. Not too many people get to observe something like this, and I appreciated the experience.


Deanna

What is a CRT?

A couple days ago I learned what a DWI Crash Response Team (CRT) is. This team is made up of specially trained officers who respond to serious injury or fatal DWI crashes. They diagram a crash scene using a Total Station. Their primary focus is to gather evidence and witness accounts so prosecuters can more accurately do their job. The team is made up of three people - two members operated the Total Station, or TS, while the third, the principal investigator folows up, verifies witness accounts and briefs the District Attorney's office. They are men and women who have seen the worst crash scenes and we need more of them.

On Friday, STOP DWI of Erie County held a briefing for area police to better understand what a CRT is and the necessity for more training. Some of the departments who currently have CRTs include West Seneca, Cheektowaga, Lancaster, Amherst, Erie County Sheriff's and the NY State Police. The Buffalo police department has the Total Station, but officers haven't yet been trained on how to use it. There are still several WNY police departments who need the training to get CRTs in their area.

Mike Summers is a member of the Erie County Sheriff's Crash Response Team. He said the key to this team is being able to investigate without shutting down major highways. How does the Total Station work? According to Summers, the computer system helps with the math equations so they can more accurately investigate - for example - the exact speed the car was traveling at the time of the crash. It also has a surveying tool that draws a center line, incorporates that into the computer and draws out the crash scene, the locations of the cars, and all the evidence.

Lynn Reda is an Assistant District Attorney and heads up the Vehicular Crimes Bureau. She spoke of one court case where the CRT team responded and the grand jury was so impressed by the testimony of the investigating officer that they applauded in court. Reda calls it a "wonderful tool" and says not only does it make the criminal case easiser, but it also makes a difference in the civil lawsuit as well. In many cases, the insurance companies are more likely to pay the family because these reports are so complicated and they don't want to spend the time it takes to go through all the details.

In the end, the people who benefit most from the Crash Response Team are the victims and victims' families. The CRT gives them more piece of mind that a thorough investigation was done and that everything that can be done is being done. A CRT did not investigate my sister's crash, and I'm sure that a more extensive report would have answered many of our questions that were left unanswered.

I applaud STOP DWI and local police departments for these efforts because it's things like CRTs that will help investigate and hopefully prevent future crashes.

Deanna

Good News! Bracelets Appear to Be Working

Often I get discouraged when I read about drinking and driving in the newspaper. It's often stories like crashes or accidents - some deadly - and they are preventable.

Today I'm happy to report there's some good news regarding DWI in today's Buffalo News. The bracelets that chronic drunk drivers had to wear as part of their sentence are working in Buffalo and Niagara Falls. In case you're not familiar with these bracelets, they measure alcohol through the skin and take a reading at least once an hour. The program is paid for through grants. Some of these offenders are coming from the county's newly established DWI court. I also agree with this concept, a specially designed court - established primarily to deal with drinking and driving.

According to Patrick Lakamp's article in this morning's Buffalo News:

None of the 61 offenders was arrested again for drunken driving during the program’s first year in Buffalo and Niagara Falls courtrooms. Only a handful tampered with the monitoring device or were caught consuming alcohol.

Offenders:

• Tampered with the bracelets or failed to show up in court six times.

• Failed four drug tests out of 215 given.

• Fully passed unannounced breath tests during probation home visits.

• Showed up at 95 percent of 1,007 scheduled individual treatment visits and 2,420 group counseling sessions.

• Attended 3,330 support group meetings sponsored by Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous or some other group.

I couldn't be happier to see that most of these DWI offenders are following the rules of the bracelets, and I'm even more pleased that more towns are following the lead set by the two cities. Lackawanna, Tonawanda, and Lockport are all set to start the program in 2009, and Jamestown, Dunkirk, and Batavia will be following their lead later next year.

I agree with Erie County STOP DWI coordinator John Sullivan that these DWI offenders are being watched and monitored even though they're not in jail. I wonder if the offender who killed Karen was a part of this program ten years ago, perhaps that crash would have never happened.

Deanna

Too Drunk to Walk, Let Alone Too Drunk to Drive

This Niagara Falls man is a prime example of the kind of person we are working to keep off our roads. Not only is he too drunk to drive, but police describe him as too drunk to walk. Here's the link to the article. Check out the charges that he faces: felony driving while intoxicated and driving under the influence of drugs, leaving the scene of an accident, two counts of having alcohol in a vehicle, reckless driving, failure to keep right and driving without insurance.

Wonder why he doesn't have insurance? Prior DWIs perhaps?

Enough of my opinion.

We are working to keep our roads safe.

Deanna

Playing Games With Teens' Emotions or a Unique Way to Scare Kids Straight?

When I visited schools in Western New York this spring to tell them Karen's story, there were quite a few tears. Some shed by me as I shared the emotions of what my family and I have been through in the past 10 years, and some more shed by students in the audience who could relate to something I said. In my presentation, I go through the entire experience of
March 6, 1998 - what it was like being told that my only sister was killed by a drunk driver.

In a California high school last month, police officers visited 20 classrooms with news that several students were killed in car wrecks. Kids became hysterical. Hours later they were told that it was all an exercise designed to "scare kids straight" about drinking and driving. School officials have come under criticism for the tactics they used.

One Buffalo News reader in Orchard Park felt firmly objected to the tactic.

What do I think as a "crusader" against drunk driving? I have mixed emotions on what these CA administrators did. While I agree with the Orchard Park reader that they toyed with the kids emotions, I do know that sometimes teens just don't hear the message. Assembly after assembly this prom season I would see some kids leaving with a look on their faces that they still believed that they are invincible, thinking perhaps "even though Karen was killed, it won't happen to me". Perhaps telling students that their classmates were killed in crashes was the only way school leaders could get the message across. Will it save lives? Perhaps.

What I've been saying all along, is if I can impact one person sitting in each of those assemblies, it will be worth it. These school officials probably left a lasting impression on a lot of students.

Feel free to post comments to this blog if you agree or disagree.

Until next time...
Deanna

Deanna & Jen Go to the Prom

It's been 15 years since my prom. Hard to believe that it's been that long. Last night, I went back to the prom.

Why? A few months ago, when Jennifer Stehlar (Mrs. New York American Beauty 2008) and I talked about pre-prom assemblies, and getting the word out about the dangers of drinking and driving, I suggested going to the prom to give kids another reminder of the dangers of DWI right there at the event itself. Iroquois Central High School agreed, and last night Jen and I went to the prom!

The prom was held at the Hyatt in downtown Buffalo. We set up a table, I brought Karen's picture, and we encouraged teens to sign a "pre-prom" promise, pledging not to drink and drive and encouraging others to do the same. I am happy to say we collected 50 signatures from teens, and I was very pleased to see a few people signing the pledge without encouragement from Jen and I - they took the pledge on their own. We are proud of each and every signature received at the event, and Iroquois students really are a "great group of kids".

We enjoyed a delicious dinner with Iroquois faculty, and soon afterwards posed for our official prom picture. After a little coaxing from me, Jen and I stepped onto the dance floor and had a great time dancing up a storm! We even helped crown the royal court - prom princess, prom queen, etc. for the event. It was a pleasure being part of last night's special event for Iroquois seniors.

I've attached several pictures from the prom to this blog, and my second blog on Buffalo.com/YourHub has more observations on how times have changed since my prom.

A special thank you to Jenn, Iroquois Principal Dennis Kenney, Trooper DePlato, Jeff Toy, and many others who made the night so memorable.

Deanna

Teaching Teens a Lesson in O.P.

Today was "Senior Day" at Orchard Park High School, and it began with a very serious message. Teens were taken outside and witnessed a mock car crash, right outside their high school gym.
Orchard Park's SADD chapter, Orchard Park Police, local firefighters, and Mercy Flight all participated in the staged accident. Two cars were involved and a third mini-van actually exploded.

Five teens were involved in the mock crash. Both teen drivers were driving under the influence - one under the influence of alcohol and the other had drugs in his system. It was a fatal wreck, so Orchard Park's seniors actually witnessed one of their classmates being put in a body bag.

It was emotionally jarring for me. I've seen plenty of these re-enactments on TV, but up close, and seeing the wreckage and police and fire crews rescuing the victims brought me back to my sister's crash 10 years ago.

Here's a link to WIVB-TV's news story on the mock crash.

I was at the school to work the mock crash into a video project I'm producing with STOP DWI of Erie County, before my presentation to seniors for their assembly. I also interviewed police, a prosecutor and volunteer firefighters for that project.

Following the mock crash, seniors were taken into the auditorium to see the teens charged and placed in jail on video. Orchard Park Police Officer Patrick Fitzgerald and Assistant District Attorney Brian Parker then talked to students about the dangers of DWI, before I told them Karen's story.

Teens were very attentive and I was impressed by the response. It was the first opportunity for Garrett, my brother-in-law, who's also a senior at O.P. to hear Karen's story, and I was glad he was able to hear the presentation.

A special thank you to O.P. for their generous donation to Crusade Against Impaired Driving. Another thank you to Larry Goble for organizing the mock crash and assembly and Don Lorentz, who helped with the video project this morning.


Deanna

Talking to Teens and Feedback!

Since mid-April, I have spoken at several schools. There were assemblies at the Gow School, Alden Central, Pioneer Central and Eden Central. Yesterday and today I spoke at five health classes at JFK High School. Sometimes teens ask questions and come up to talk to me afterwards telling me their personal stories, or how something I said impacted them. There are many other times when I don't get the feedback, and I'm left wondering if what I said made a difference.

Today after the final of five health class presentations at JFK, a young lady said to me "Just wanted you to know that what you said touched me". I gave her a hug, and I thought it made the emotional outpouring worth it. Then just a couple hours ago, this comment was posted on my last blog:

You spoke at my high school just yesterday and I thought every word you said was moving. Your story, and how you kept saying that things would never be the same and its still a daily issue, just makes your story even more moving. I saw that the whole presentation you were shaking uncontrollably. I want you to know that I spoke with a few people about that class and people said that you changed their minds about how they should handle prom and that they should be smart...about getting desgnated drivers and driving careful as well. You definatley did not go up there and pour your heart out for nothing...me being a sophomore in highschool, i will remember you always and your expirience, and know that my desicions can effect so many other people besides me. I'm a compassionate person and I hate even thinking that I've hurt someone. I really want to express how greatful I am that you spoke to us.


-Amanda.
pitygirl@msn.com

Thank you Amanda, thanks for listening, thanks for taking the time to post this comment, and thanks for hopefully thinking twice when it comes to drinking and driving.

Deanna

Reaching Out To Teens

Donn Esmonde's column on my presentation was published in this morning's Buffalo News. It was very well-written and makes a very good point about the need to educate young people about the dangers of drinking and driving.

I have spoken at six high schools so far this spring, and have at least five scheduled in the upcoming weeks. I know that I can't reach all the teens in each assembly or classroom, but if I impact just one or a few and make them think twice about the dangers of drinking and driving, then I can say mission accomplished.

One of my major obstacles is the high price of gas these days. Alden Central High School and Pioneer Central High School are both more than 30 miles away from my home. If you'd like to donate to Crusade Against Impaired Driving, and help, click on the PayPal icon on this website, or send donations to P.O. Box 21, Lake View, NY 14085.

Thanks again and here's hoping for a safe and sober prom and graduation season,

Deanna

Talking To Teens & The Road to Recovery

I'd like to begin this blog with some good news. I am finally feeling a little bit better - three weeks after the car accident. The neck and back pain is easing up, and the physical therapy (three times a week!) is working. I'm breathing a sigh of relief, and hoping I continue to improve from this point.

With prom season here, I have been busy telling Karen's story to various groups of young people. From the young men at the Gow School to driver's ed classes at Williamsville South to health classes at Cleve-Hill High School in Cheektowaga, and today a pre-prom assembly at Alden High School...many eyes are being opened to the dangers of drinking and driving.

One of the students at Cleve-Hill brought out her cell phone during my presentation, and I thought it was unusual, and a little rude, but I didn't say anything. Afterwards, she came up to me and said, "I texted my sister to say 'I love you'". I smiled. One thing that I've learned from my sister's crash, is that life is short, and you should tell people how you feel about them, how much you love them before it's too late.

Today at Alden, a girl came up to me with tears in her eyes, and said she too lost a sibling, her brother. He wasn't killed in a car crash, but was very sick and died too soon. She said what I said brought tears to her eyes. I gave her a hug.

A special thank you to the teens at Cleve-Hill and Alden High School for their donations to Crusade Against Impaired Driving, Inc.

Coming soon...two Buffalo News reporters were in the audience for today's assembly at Alden. Donn Esmonde's column is expected to be published Sunday, and Emma Sapong's article will also be printed soon. I will post links in this blog.

We are working on....getting video of my presentation put on karenscrusade.org, making plans for an upcoming fundraiser - it's a softball tournament that will be held in West Seneca on Saturday, August 9. I am looking for volunteers to help organize this event and I'm looking to recruit teams too. Feel free to email me at info@karenscrusade.org to learn more.


Deanna

Sharing Karen's Story with WNY Schools & Good News

Nothing can stop me now...the neck and back pain that I'm dealing with following my recent car accident is not stopping me from taking Karen's story to schools this spring.

Last Wednesday evening, I spoke to the young men at the Gow School in South Wales. It was a very attentive audience, and the teens had many interesting questions. I was joined by
Mrs. New York 2008, Jennifer Stehlar who assisted me with my PowerPoint, and also shared with the students her personal experiences and why she has taken on a safe driving platform. Jennifer also snapped a few pictures that I've attached to this blog. A special thank you to The Gow School for their very generous donation to Crusade Against Impaired Driving.

This week, on Monday and Tuesday, I spoke to Tim Joy's driver's education classes at Williamsville South High School. On Tuesday, I was joined by Beth Obad, the president of
Erie County's MADD chapter. The students also donated to CAID - thanks.

Tomorrow and Monday, I'll be speaking to health classes at Cleve-Hill High School. My friend Cindy is joining me tomorrow, and next Friday I'm headed to Alden.

CAID got good news and even better news in the last week.

We are officially a 501C3 non-profit organization! Any donations made to Crusade Against Impaired Driving, Inc. are now tax deductible.

Last week, I received a very nice letter from Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown. He was not able to make it to the candlelight vigil in March, but applauded my efforts to stop drunk driving in the community: " "Your hard work, the support you have gathered thus far, and the organization's mission will not only educate and create awareness about the dangers of impaired driving, but
will bolster our memory of Karen as well."

That's all I have for now...I'll be blogging again soon.

Deanna

The "accordion" and what I'll do differently next time

It was something I won't forget. All those years I spoke about my sister's crash, now I was the accident victim.

Screeching of the tires as I tried to brake and the sound of my car crashing into the car in front of me. Then as people rushed over to check and see if I was ok, I stared at the hood of the car. It looked like an accordion. Smashed up...

The EMTs put me on a backboard and I kept telling them "I don't think I'm seriously hurt", this isn't necessary. Their reply: "It's a precaution - just in case". I was making phone calls from the ambulance on the way to Mercy Hospital - to my husband and to my friend to take care of the errand I was headed to.

At the same time, I was shaking like a leaf, feeling the "pins and needles" sensation through my fingers and toes, hoping it would all go away soon.

I was taken to "fast track" - the emergency room at Mercy Hospital. Luckily, no serious injuries, a "negative" on the xray, and within a couple hours, sent home with a soft neck cast...just in case.

It could have been worse, that's what I keep telling myself. I was using a handsfree cell phone device when the crash happened. I should have been paying closer attention to the road. Could have, should have, and so much guilt.

Now I have neck and back pains that make it very uncomfortable to sit up straight. Now, because of the accident, my husband and I have to find another car.

I am learning a hard lesson here - that as busy as I am - rushing from here to there - and trying to do so much at once - that it may be too much.

No more multi-tasking behind the wheel, I'm learning to drive safer and take less chances behind the wheel.

Crusade Against Impaired Driving was established to fight drunk driving in the community, but I'm also an advocate of driving safely sober. I was wearing my seat belt, but it's time to pay closer attention to the road, other drivers, etc.

Lesson learned.

Deanna

Driving Drunk: Results of Study Are Disturbing

A study was just published by the Substance and Mental Health Services Administration that I find very interesting and disturbing at the same time.

15% of drivers nationwide have admitted to driving under the influence at least once in the past year from 2004-2006. Startling...that means more people are putting their lives and innocent lives on the road with them in jeopardy each day and night.

Which state has the worst drunk driving rate? Wisconsin tops the list...so I fear for people in the "Dairy State". More than a quarter of the state's adult drivers had driven under the influence. Rounding out the worst five are North Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota. Apparently this is a trend in the midwest.

Utah had the lowest incidence of drunken driving. It was the only state where fewer than 10 percent of adult motorists reported driving under the influence. West Virginia, Arkansas, Kentucky and North Carolina all had drunken driving rates for the prior year of less than 11 percent.

Where does New York rate in the study? Somewhere in the middle - 12.42% to 13.81% admit to driving under the influence. That's still too high of a rate in my opinion. It would be nice if
New York would rate at the bottom of the list. It's wishful thinking at this point, but something that I'd like to see change very soon.

With so many innocent lives on the road each day, it's very scary to me that people continue to make the choice to drink and drive and put so many lives in jeopardy each day. My sister and all those innocent victims is the reason why I continue to speak out against drunk driving, and why I work to change the mindset in the community.

Celebrities Busted

I actually have two blogs that I try to regularly maintain. One on this site and another on Buffalo.com/YourHub.

Click here to read my blog on Carmelo Anthony and Richie Sambora being arrested on drunk driving charges. I welcome all comments.

Deanna

Midnight Muncheez & Hopefully Keeping Drunks Off the Road

It's the first thing many partiers think of after a night of drinking - finding a good place for a late night bite to eat, after all drinking alcohol leads to a "snack attack". Too often that means driving when you are too buzzed or drunk to be on the road.

Now a California business called "Midnight Muncheez" is offering a late night delivery service as a better option. They deliver food, beverages, party supplies and even toiletries, which I find a little strange. Why? In an effort to curb the number of drunk drivers in that community. Last year, there were 1,562 DUI arrests made in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach, that's compared to 3,216 in Erie County in 2006. The Newport Beach Police Department supports the mission of the company. As they should, both the police and Midnight Muncheez are trying to keep the drunks off the road.

I think it's a great idea - and something a local business owner here should look into. There are certain areas of the city where it would be a huge success - around the local college campuses for example - Buff State, the Elmwood Avenue area, or even UB South campus - around Main Street. My mission is to keep the drunks off the road, and if that means feeding them by bringing food to their apartments or homes, then I'm all for it.

Deanna

A Letter to Karen

It's hard to put my emotions into words tonight. Ten years ago your life was taken too soon, and here it is almost your birthday. It's supposed to be a happy and joyous occasion. Instead, mom, dad, and I...and all your friends and family will be thinking of you and probably shedding tears.

You would be 29 years old, and I can't help but wonder what if. What if you weren't killed by a drunk driver? Maybe you would be married, maybe you'd have kids, maybe you'd be a successful trainer on a sports team somewhere.

I can't help but wonder how our relationship might have grown. We were just starting to get close. We were emailing each other, and really appreciating each other for what we were....sisters.

You were so close to your friends...and so many of them miss you. Sara is preparing to get married, Tara named her little girl after you, Jackie has *5* kids and thinks of you often. Katie keeps your picture in a special place in her home.

Sometimes it just doesn't seem real. There's still a piece of me who's expecting to wake up from this nightmare any moment. I think that one day I will hear your voice again, one day I may see you at my door again, one day I may hear you laugh or say "Dee" again. Then realism sets in. No, you're never going to do any of that again, because you were stolen away from us. You were killed by someone who was careless and didn't care about his actions, he didn't care about who he hurt when he got intoxicated and drove head on into the car you were riding in.

I've been robbed of you - my little sister - "doubles" . A drunk driver ripped you away from us, and now I'm fighting to make sure other families don't have to go through the same pain.

I love you Karen.

Happy Birthday,

Deanna

Judges, DWI, and One Who Appears To Be Making a Difference

Too often in WNY and in cities and towns across the country, police make DWI arrests, and then the justice system brings everything to a screeching halt. Judges are not always focused on the dangers drunk drivers pose to innocent victims.

In the case surrounding my sister's death, the man convicted in the case had at least two prior DWI convictions. Earlier that day he was even pulled over for suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Too often, people charged with DWI offenses are repeat offenders and they commit the crime multiple times before they are 1-pulled over or 2-face serious repurcussions. Instead, the charges are "knocked down" or reduced.

Four years ago, when Deborah Chimes was appointed town justice in Orchard Park, she became the first female justice in town history. That's impressive enough, but what caught my eye is that since she took office, Chimes instated the National Safety Council Driver Improvement Program. That program helps people who are found guilty of driving while intoxicated get into anti-DWI programs even if they can't afford treatment. Now Chimes is running for re-election. As someone who fights DWI in this community, it's nice to see a judge who is focused on keeping impaired drivers off the road.


Deanna

Woman Plows Into 200 Year Old House

It stood on a Staten Island street corner for more than 200 years, but it couldn't withstand the force of a crash caused by an alleged drunk driver. Police say a 21 year old woman with a BAC of .15 is responsible for the crash.

My take on this story? I agree with the young eyewitness who saw it all. "There was no way she could have driven the car."

She was drinking for four straight hours?! I'm surprised her BAC wasn't higher than .15.

She was lucky that she didn't hurt or kill anyone, though she did damage a historic building. Hopefully this was a wake-up call.


Deanna

They should do this in WNY schools

As we start to schedule school presentations to educate teens about the dangers of drunk driving this prom season, our mission to stop this dangerous crime is heightened. Hopefully hundreds of students will hear Karen's story and see a PowerPoint presentation to hear how real people are impacted by this tragic crime.

There's a high school in New Mexico that's doing things a little differently. I think that bringing the courtroom into the classroom is a fantastic idea. This is something schools in our area should consider. I do think that this should be followed with a victim's story as well. This way students can see how the courts treat drunk drivers and then how real people's lives are impacted.

The more teenagers hear about the dangers of alcohol and how the combination of drinking and driving is so deadly the better.

Deanna

Celebrating St. Paddy's Day & Staying Safe

It's one of the first things people think about when they think of St. Patrick's Day celebrations - drinking a beer. After all, it's an Irish custom to have a drink when you party.

Personally, I'm not against drinking, whether you're celebrating St. Patrick's Day or any other special occasion. It's when you combine that one, two, three or more beers with a vehicle that I have a problem. My sister Karen was an innocent victim of someone who did just that, someone who drank alcohol and drove home and slammed into the car she was riding in at 55 MPH. Karen was killed almost instantly. Too many innocent lives are taken each day by people who don't think before they drink and drive.

There are ways to wear green, celebrate "St. Paddy's Day", and stay safe this holiday. Think before you drink. Call a cab, designate a driver (who won't drink with his friends) to make sure everyone gets home safe, or even call a friend if you know that you're too buzzed to drive.

Have a safe and happy St. Patrick's Day, and think first before you drink. Make the right choice and don't drink and drive.

Thanks,

Deanna

Please stay safe this

Emotions & Vigilance

I started planning the "Remembering Karen" Candlelight Vigil months ago. It started with a few thoughts at that time and last night it tranformed into a memorable event.

Emotions ran high as we all remembered Karen and others lost in drunk driving crashes, yet the many in attendance shared the same mindset that I have - the time for change is now.
Crusade Against Impaired Driving was started to ensure that other families do not have to suffer the way my family and I have suffered over the past decade.

As it was in our lives, the music from last night's event was an important part of the program, and I carefully selected each song. Here are links to all four songs that were played at the event.

"Precious Child"
"Who you'd be today"
"Remember Me This Way"
"MyHeart Will Go On"

As mementos of the evening, everyone in attendance walked away with a prayer card and a bookmark.

Not only did I get an overwhelming amount of emotional support at last night's event...the financial support of everyone, both friends and strangers, was amazing as well. Many opened up their wallets to support our organization, and to everyone I say thank you. Remember that all donations to Crusade Against Impaired Driving, Inc. stay in this community.

Where will this money go? First, money raised will go to support educating people in this community about the dangers of DWI. School presentations are being planned for pre-prom assemblies. We will also soon begin work on a DWI announcement to work into school announcements at area schools. I'll provide more updates on both of these programs right here. More programs will be planned in the future. We also plan to provide victim services to those impacted by drunk driving, this is a need currently not being filled in this community.

Thank you for all your support and for helping to make the candlelight vigil a success.


Deanna

10 Years Ago

Tomorrow will mark 10 years since Karen was torn out of our lives. Friends, family, classmates, and the community will be coming together to remember a young life that was cut short.

The event will be one to remember Karen and all victims of drunk driving crashes. The goal of the evening is to remember and to pledge to change the mindset so more people understand the dangers of drinking and driving.

The location has been changed to St. John the Evangelist Church from the original location (Cazenovia Park) due to the weather. St. John's is on Seneca Street, within a few steps of where the crash happened on March 6, 1998. The vigil will begin at 7pm.

If anyone has any questions about the event, please email me through the website.

Hope to see you there...

Deanna

Finding the right song

In about a week and a half, friends, family, strangers, and anyone who's lost a loved one in a drunk driving crash will be gathering on one night for the "Remembering Karen" Candlelight Vigil at Cazenovia Park in South Buffalo.
For me, it's been several weeks of work, all for a good cause of course. After all, if I didn't love my sister and think about her and the tragic loss daily, I wouldn't be working as hard as I do to fight drunk driving. As for the event, there have been sponsors to recruit, a public access system to acquire power for, recruiting volunteers, lining up the speakers, working on the program, and getting the word out to everyone in the community. Without the help of friends and family, I wouldn't have been able to do as much as I have.

One of the things that I'm trying to do tonight is pick the right song to fit the occasion. How do you pick the right words to sum up so many emotions that many will be feeling on that night 10 years after Karen was killed? How do you pick just the right lyrics that will make everyone think of their loved one who was tragically lost in such a preventable crime?

I'm headed back to the search for the perfect song now...so wish me luck!

Thanks,

Deanna

Man drove home with victim lodged in windshield

In Wisconsin, a man was sentenced to 15 years in prison after he drove home with one victim lodged in his windshield, the other person he hit was seriously hurt and is now in a nursing home.

Read more by clicking on this link: http://www.buffalonews.com/nationalworld/national/story/277492.html

His BAC was .18 - 6 hours after the crash, it makes you wonder what it was when he struck those two innocent people.

Each time I see an article like this it gives me more motivation to continue the fight against DWI.

Always remembering the innocent lives impacted by DWI-related crashes,

Deanna

Beer strapped in, baby not

This story disgusted me when I heard it on The Today Show this morning.

Police in St. Augustine, Florida charged a 46 year old woman after they say a 24-pack of beer was buckled up, but a 16 month old child riding in the back seat with her mother, was not properly restrained.

Here's a link to the article:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/bizarre/5516701.html

Ridiculous.

Deanna

Preparing for the vigil

In a little more than a month, family, friends, classmates, and many others will come together in Cazenovia Park on Seneca Street to remember Karen 10 years after her death during the "Remembering Karen" Candlelight Vigil. This event will be held on March 6th at 7:00 and is also being held to remember all those people who like Karen and our family, have been impacted by drunk driving crashes.

Karen's friends will talk about how their lives have changed since the crash and others will also talk about how their lives have been impacted by DWI-related crashes.

Preparations are underway to purchase supplies. That's why we're calling on local businesses to help with the costs of this event.

Keep checking this blog for more updates as the vigil draws closer.

Thanks,

Deanna

Edwards' daughter in a drunk driving crash

Presidential candidate John Edwards' daughter, Cate, was involved in a drunk driving crash last week.

Here are a couple links to the news stories:

http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/01/14/john-edwards-daughter-ok-after-car-crash/

http://www.newsobserver.com/264/story/879731.html

It makes you wonder if this will impact the candidate's stance on drinking and driving. Some say it takes happening to a public figure, or someone from his family, before mindsets change.

You'll recall that Edwards' son Wade died in a car accident.

My opinion on this? Drunk driving crashes too often impact innocent lives. That appears what Cate Edwards was here, thank goodness she's ok.

Welcome to the blog on Karen's Crusade

Welcome to the first blog entry on karenscrusade.org. This blog will be used as a way to communicate regarding issues connected to impaired driving, DWI news stories, and everything that's going on with the organization.

Now for more on a tragedy that occurs too often on the nation's roads. On Sunday, a drunk driver with a BAC that was more than three times the legal limit, killed a woman and four children.
Here's a link to the article .
http://www.newsobserver.com/2188/story/853643.html

How awful for that family - all those kids and that young woman dead, all due to one individual's bad decision. After all, it's a choice to drink and drive. It's stories like this that keep me going as I continue to raise awareness about the dangers of DWI on our roads.


Have a happy and safe 2008 and do not drink and drive,

Deanna