Written Testimonials

Texting in a Rollover My friend was texting her friend while she was driving to New Mexico to meet her boyfriend that she had met a couple of days ago. She was telling him that she would be there in an hour or so and tried to turn. She hit a guardrail and flipped 2 times. Luckily I survived but she did not. - Kaley [ TX ]

Kari and Deannea We were on our way to the Friday night football game when an 8th grader stopped us to say that Kari and Deanna are dead! - S.D. [ Sudan, TX ]

My sister was killed by a drunk driver. - Jaime [ Louise, TX ]

Amy's Heaven Five months from now, it will be 5 years since the most extreme heart stopping information was relayed to me on a sun shining Saturday morning by telephone, that my beautiful, talented, and free spirited niece, Amy, was killed along with 2 close friends (one being a best friend) in a head on collision with a 18-wheel truck driver in Colorado, while driving back from a hockey game the night before. Although Amy was not the driver that fateful night, and speed/alcohol did not play a factor in the accident, the "inexperience" with age of the driver, and the time of night did. All three girls were 16 years of age and beginning their lives. All three girls were buried next to each other. Each year on Amy's birthday, I, myself, write a poem and send a birthday card to be placed at her graveside. Each time I see the North star in the sky at night, I thank Amy for the days I had with her. My family and I will never know the true details of the accident and what happened that night, yet I know that Amy was ready to see Heaven when it was her time to be with God. The best thing? Amy is with God. What better place to be. - Jana L. [ Garland, TX ]

My Car Accident On November 28, 2006 I was in a bad car accident in San Angelo, Texas. I was hit by a truck. I flipped in the air 3 times before I finally landed, on the driver side with my left arm stuck under the car. It took the fire fighters about an hour to get me out. They had to cut the roof off. I couldn't feel my legs for like an hour after they pulled me out of the car. I was so scared because I was all alone. I remember pieces of what was going on in my mind. I remember when they pulled me out of the car they told me my dad was there and I remember screaming his name "Daddy"! My dad said that was the worst thing to hear me screaming his name and he couldn't help me. I was wearing my seat belt and that's what saved my life. I went to Lamesa and told my story with the students from there. I even have the Summit Shirt and the 6000 shirt. I would still like to tell my story to students around the world and ask them to wear a selt belt. Thank you for reading my story. - Roxana [ Slaton, TX ]

The Death of Teens from Sudan There were three teens driving to Sudan to go to a football game. The truck had lost control and turned over and two were killed and one lived. She only had a broken leg and some bruises. One of the others that got killed had been smashed when the truck fell on her. The last one flew out of the window. The one that lived has bad dreams of what happened to her friends and she can't get it out of her head. They shouldn't have gone anywhere that day or to the football game. The one that the truck fell on had a dream she was going to die at a very young age. It came true because she died at the age of 16 a day before her birthday.- V.M. [ Littlefield, TX ]

7-17-07 Ashley was a friend of mine, a friend to all really. She was going places. She was going to school at UT. She was here for summer vacation and she went with one of her friends on his motorcycle. Another one of Ashley's friends was following them and she hit them from behind. Ashley and Freddy were vaulted from the motorcycle. Ashley was wearing Freddy's helmet but it came off, the officers said this happened because it didn't fit her correctly. Ashley hit the ground and was instantly killed and Freddy was seriously injured... he was in a coma the last I heard. The girl who hit them impaled her car into a rock wall.

We all miss Ashley. I think the most affected was Araceli "Cely" G. Just 2 years before Cely lost another friend to leukemia and now Ashley. Ashley was 19 going on 20. She was an only child but you would have never known that with all her energy and friends around her all the time. She leaves behind her grandmother behind, her mother, Cely, a fiance, and all those who loved her so much. I never got to tell her that she was always a good friend, but I think she knew she was... she had so many people that cared for her... and were sad to see her go so soon. I wear the band... for her.- Nikki [ El Paso, TX ]

My friends Jordan and Shelby were both members of color guard at pottsboro high school. Shelby got into her car wreck on the way to school on may 15, 2007. We weren't even over her passing away when another tragic accident happened involving Jordan. Her and her boyfriend (not releasing name) got into a wreck and Jordan passed away on june 15, 2007. My mom used to tell me that kids aren't invincible. I never really paid attention to her. But now that i lost two of my best friends and could have lost three it makes me rethink everything about my life. Just know this, you're not invincible. PLEAZE BE CAREFUL. - M.Y. [ Pottsboro, TX ]

In Loving Memory of Cynthia it was like two weeks ago my friend Cynthia was talking to me one night saying she was gonna go out, i told her it was too late but she said she was still going with her friends. She left and the next thing i heard was that a girl died in a car crash, she crossed my mind but i thought it couldn't be her. The next day i saw the news and it was on there that cynthia c. died in a car wreck and she flew out the window because she wasn't wearing her seatbelt. they were street racing and when they tried exiting the freeway here in monroe the driver lost control and hit a tree light post before she flew out. they took her to ben taub hospital where she was pronounced dead and sometimes i blame myself for not trying to stop her and everyday after work i still go visit her house and just stop by to say hi to her. she lives like five streets down from me!!!! i miss my friend so much she was the first girl i loved but we decided to keep it as friends!!! i just wish i could talk to her one more time!!!!! i hope no one goes through this because it's not a happy road, now I'm careful when i drive because i don't want to leave the people i love but she knows i love her with all my heart!!!!!!!- ng [ Houston, TX ]

Driving Home From School I am twenty now and a sophomore in college. When I was a seventeen year old senior in high school I was driving home from school like any other day. I didn't know my life was about to change forever. It was raining a little bit, well anyway I was going the speed limit and driving my small convertible Volkswagon Beetle down a sharp curve when I hydroplaned and overcorrected. I went into the oncoming lane of traffic and hit a truck head on. This is not my account only the witnesses. My airbag failed to deploy and I fell to the right and hit my stick shift. This crushed the entire right side of my skull causing a traumatic brain injury. I immediately went into a coma, had two brain surgeries that night, remained on life support and woke up four weeks later. The doctors said I had a five percent chance to live and making it through the night was unlikely. When I made it through the first night the doctors said if I did ever wake up I would never walk, or talk again, or have any self skills. Well I woke up spent six months in the hospital and I can do everything I did before. The accident still affects me every day of my life. I have seizures and many other medical conditions as a result but thank God I am alive. Now I mentor to teenagers with brain injuries as a result of car accidents. I was researching your program and wanted to somehow get involved.- Jaimie [ Tyler, TX ]

unforgettable year On September 23, 2006 me and my friend Maegen A. were on our way to Dallas when she got a call. At school Megan M., a sophomore at our school, had just been in a terrible accident right in front of school at the beginning of lunch. She had pulled out too far at the intersection and was hit by a truck on the driver's side. she was not wearing a seatbelt but the passenger was. When the car was hit her door opened and she was thrown from the car, it ended up on top of her. Maegen's dad had worked the wreck he knew when he saw it that she was not going to make it. She lived for three more days at the hospital. Our school was very devastated by this especially since most of the school saw the wreck. Then just three months later Maegen was stopped on the side of the road to help a friend, she got out of her truck and stood talking to them when a drunk driver swerved and hit her. She was a very friendly person she touched everyone's life in some way. That same night our other friend Cody J. and his girlfriend Breyonna N. of last year's graduating class were driving at high speeds down a curve when he overcorrected himself causing them to slide into the ditch and hit a tree. Neither of them made it. This was the most depressing week our school ever had. three funerals in one week it was so unreal. Then four months later Yessica P. was driving at high speed playing around and swerving when she swerved into a tree. She was wearing her seatbelt, so was the girl she had riding with her but when she hit the tree it pinned her in the car. The car caught on fire and blew up, the passenger got out but Yessica did not make it. So in the 2006-2007 school year we lost one freshman, Yessica, one sophomore, Megan, two seniors, Maegen and Cody, and one teague high graduate of 2006 Breyonna. I think our school has had a fair share of teen driving accidents and i hope they have at least taught the teens in my school that driving needs to be taken seriously.- Megan [ Teague, TX ]

Car accident About 10 years ago my cousin which was 16 years old was working at a gas station here in our hometown Fairfield. She always loved working there cause she got to meet new people. One night, I guess they were her friends, they came in to talk to her. They came in 1 hr before closing and told her that she was going to go with them when she got off. She had no idea where they were going to go. About 20 minutes after they left her mom came in and talked to her and told her she wanted her home right after she got off work. After her mom left 40 min later while she was trying to close the store the guys came back. She never told her mom about the guys coming. When they got there they told her to get in the car but she told them no cause she had to be home right after work. They forced her into the car and they told her they were only going to angus tx to get beer and they would be back before her mom would worry. My cousin never drank in her life so that's why she did not want to go. They left and got on the interstate and headed to angus. They drove about 115 miles. When they came to the bad curve before you get to angus the car got out of control and my cousin flew out of the car and went into the air and her head hit the light pole on the side of the road. By the time emt people got there she was dead. Back at home her mom was worried not knowing where she was she could not find her at work so she panicked. She knew she should have been home by now. police came to her house to tell them what happend and she did not believe them. the police also came to my house and i was also upset. i wish she never went with those guys but we can't change it now.- Lacey [ Fairfield, TX ]

I went to a party a few years ago & it got out of hand, and the guys started laying it on thick. I've been in some tough situations so by now i know that i need to call someone to pick me up. (i wasn't allowed to drive the car since there was alcohol at the party) I called my brother and asked him to come get me. He said he and his friend bryan would. When they came and got me, i was in tears freaking out. There was a guy at the party that didn't get the word "No!" I pointed him out to my brother and he noticed the guy was drunk. (my brother being the sweet guy he is, said that he wouldn't get in the other guy's face because he was drunk. that he'd talk to him at school when he was sober)My brother walked me to the car and put me next to Bryan. The drunk guy yelled at Bryan. "hey! That's my girl" (I still remember the last sentences he said..) "she's not MY girl and she's not YOURS either. It would be nice if you were though." I smiled at the thought of us together...

He started the car and locked the doors. i put my seat belt on and so did my brother in the back. (bryan didn't) We were going down the road when these bright lights behind us got closer and closer.. You could tell byran was getting mad, cuz it was making it hard for him to see.

I looked back just to see if i could see the car, when WHAM! it hit us. We all freaked. at first bryan tried pulling over but it hit us again. WHAM! I yelled at my brother to get up front with us but he said he couldn't. WHAM! we got hit again. We were just aproaching the bridge back to our ranch when WHAM!

It seemed the back seat was getting smaller and my brother had blood around him. i started screaming. I remember reaching in my purse, but all of a sudden we were flipping. i was screaming so loud i could barely hear Bryan's and my brother's screams. Finally we lay on the side of the truck. I look around and noticed Bryan wasn't in the truck. i looked in the back and noticed my brother still there. I yelled at him "CHRIS! CHRIS! SAY SOMETHING CHRIS.WHERE'S BRYAN??!!" he mummbeled something and got his phone out of his pants. he called for the police. It seemed like an eternity until they got there and got us out. We asked where Bryan was. The lady cop couldnt even look me in the eyes.

A few days after we got out of the hospital,(chris in a wheel chair and my arm in a cast)went to Bryan's funeral. He died at 19. i was 17 and my brother was 19 when it happened. I'm now 19 and think of it often.

The police did get the guy that did it. Remember the guy from the party? His name is Eric, and he's surving life in prison.

R.I.P Bryan B. I'll miss you and love you always. - Sarah [ TX ]

Seatbelts may not always save your life My daughter died in a car accident in 2005. The person driving was intoxicated and driving too fast. She HAD a seat belt on; however, it was a flip over accident and the air bags did not deploy. Her head went out the window and was crushed between the car and the pavement. So, in most accidents, seat belts do save lives; however, when someone behind the wheel is drunk - anything can happen even if you have your seat belt on. NEVER GET IN A VEHICLE IF THE DRIVER HAS BEEN DRINKING. NO ONE KNOWS THE AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL SOMEONE CAN HANDLE. MOST PEOPLE CAN'T HANDLE ANY ALCOHOL. YOU HAVE A VOICE - YOU HAVE A CHOICE. DRIVE RESPONSIBLY. DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE. DON'T BE SLEEPY AND DRIVE. DON'T BE ON THE CELL PHONE. AND DON'T GET INTO A VEHICLE IF SOMEONE HAS BEEN DRINKING, IS SLEEPY, OR LIKES TO DRIVE FAST. DISTRACTIONS CAN BE FATAL. - Terry [ Garland, TX ]

What if's...what it means well that’s what i wondered after i almost was in a car crash with my two best friends. My ex boyfriend was behind the wheel, and i was sitting next to him, my best friend in the back seat. We weren't high or drinking, we were just driving home from a late night class at school. It was a dark road, and he was going WAY too fast. I kept asking him to slow down, but he really wasn't listening. We came around a turn, and i knew he had lost control of the car, we spun around, i could feel my heart in my throat, and eyes wide open, as the car was spinning, i saw a parked RV, next to me...inside i was screaming, on the out side i was shaking. He got the car to stop, under two feet from the RV. As we pulled away from the RV I was still shaking, and was grabbing my hands together so hard my knuckles were turning white, and nail marks were beginning to appear on my arm. I was really shaken up by this. We parked in an empty lot near my house just to talk. I started crying and saying "what if you didn't stop the car?" "what if we had been hurt?" "What if you lost me"...he couldn't answer any of my questions. I almost didn't walk away that night.....but i did, and now all three of use take a greater respect for driving safely, and making sure we don't end up killing one of our friends.- AMM [ Wallkill, NY ]

Bosses who are drunk drivers My name is Terry Bell and my daughter Kristy Lynn Barr was killed by her boss on November 18, 2005. Kristy was going to graduate on December 17, 2005. She went for her job orientation on November 17, 2005. Her boss got intoxicated that evening and overturned his vehicle, killing my beautiful daughter. This man had a previous DUI. His company recruited my daughter at a college job fair. I think employers need not allow drinking during recruiting or orientation processes. My daughter was blind sided by this man. She had only met him that day of her orientation. I want college students to beware of the dangers of riding in a vehicle with a prospective employer. No one knows how much alcohol an individual can consume. Her boss said he didn't think he was drunk that evening. His alcohol level was 2 1/2 times the legal limit. No one can tell if he/she is intoxicated. Please do not get into a vehicle if someone has been drinking - not even one drink. Someome could be seriously injured or killed. It changes peoples lives forever. I know I can't stop people from drinking. Just don't drink and drive.- Terry [ Garland, TX ]

falling asleep at the wheel [2005 march] my cousin miranda leigh [17] she was with her boyfriend one morning before going to tri-club to show her pig they were in his truck and he fell asleep at the wheel he had a single cab pickup truck she was sitting in the middle as he dozed off they ran into a ditch and hit 10 to 15 trees it killed her instantly and he just got injured to this day i still miss her - jackie [ Spring, TX ]

adriana mendoza r.i.p shorty my friend from 4 years and my middle school band partner passed away on 1/12/07 she was a very beautiful intelligent girl i miss you alot shorty and i still can't believe you're gone! - 3li [ El Paso, TX ]

Always wear a seatbelt My cousin was driving home about 6 years ago during daylight hours. She reached down to get something out of her purse. She lost control of her car and flipped it several times. She was 16 years old. She was not wearing her seat belt; had she been, maybe she would be alive today. Please buckle up and pay attention to the road. Nothing is more important than concentrating on what is ahead. - SJ [ Garland, TX ]

cobra crash I was involved in an accident in Wylie, Texas. I was with my boyfriend and his two best friends. We were going to race. By the time we got to the spot one of his friends got out of the car so there was three of us in the car. My boyfriend was driving his brand new cobra he had gotten for his graduation gift. We started to race and it was on a street he didn't know and it dead ended. There we went over the curb and flew 50 feet before we hit hundreds of trees. His friend jumped over scotty as scared as he was and everyone else ran down. I couldn't get out of the car. I was scared and just wished that i wouldnt have been so stupid. When they finally got me out of the car the police and ambulence was there. i was bawling and screaming about my back hurting. They put me on the stretcher and took me away to the er. Probably one of the most scariest times in my life. I am lucky that i am still alive considering there was two huge trees on each side of the car. Never say it can't happen to you because it can. - b [ Garland, TX ]

Well my name is Adriana Garcia i am from El Paso Tx. my case is that 2 months ago my friend Jesus Xavir Garcia died in a car accident caused by them.....they were drunk and they were playing races with another man with the age of 25 ....By accident they crossed a red light and they hit another car and this accident got 2 lost of 2 students in the high school of socorro ....I hope all of the students got a little in mind how drugs and alchocol can cause a really bad thing in us. - Adriana [Socorro, TX]

Miss Ya Shorty Adrianna we miss you. u passed away at such a young age. u still had your whole life ahead of u. we miss u and I hope no one else has to go through the pain of losing a friend as cool as her. - lj [ El Paso, TX ]

My Brother Was Hit By A DWI Teen My twin brother Travis, was riding his bike down mast road with his friends. It was a friday afternoon Sept. 23, 2006 after school. I went to a friend's house because we were going to go to a football game. I got a phone call around 4:30 saying my brother was hit by a car. I didn't believe it but i went to the scene anyways. As i drove down the road i saw shoes, bike pieces, and his hat all down the road. I started freaking out i stopped my car and got out of it. As i got out of my car i saw him lying on the side of the road, blood everywhere and emt people telling me to back off. As i was standing there crying making sure he was still alive i heard one of the emt people say he wasn't going to make it. So i went over to the kid who did it, which i found out i went to school with him and started yelling and screaming at him ready to beat him. My mom came running over and pulled me off him. she said i needed to follow behind but had to have someone else drive. There were dozens of people standing around and one lady offered so she brought me. My brother spent four months on the hospital. Weeks On life support and had 8 surgeries, and many minor ones. He was hit head on went through the wind shield over the car flew 50 feet and went through a fence. I will never forget that day and i still have nightmares about it. I see the kid all the time but i hold in my anger because i no, no matter how much i want to beat him or go back in time it wont change anything. No charges were filed against him even though he refused a blood test. That is my story and my worst nightmare. - Felicia [ Manchester, NH ]

1st time out She was fourteen going on fifteen. it was her first time off with her boy friend. they were both excited because her parents actually let her go with this guy for a ride. her mom seemed a bit over protective but still had trust in her. well that day she and her boyfriend went out, they were in a severe car crash. he took the red light and crashed with some old lady. he was severely injured, and the girl, well she died. you see what im trying to get to is, there is a time and place for EVERYTHING. don't rush. take your time being a kid and enjoy your childhood.don't let peer pressure get to you. obey and always always love your parents. i know i do. don't drink and drive or start your car without putting on your seat belt. i wouldn't want to here your dead. R.I.P. Adriana Mendoza. <3 u! - Tania [ El Paso, TX ]

I lost my friend Well a few years ago I lost a really close Friend, well my boyfriend, and he was someone I could go to for whenever I was in need. He was there throughout thick and thin whenever I was sad and whenever I needed to talk. I lost him when we were driving home from a movie and a drunk teenager lost control over the car and crashed into us. It hit the driver seat he went through the window of the other car and died, while i was still alive bleeding from my arms and my legs. I miss him till this day and I have tons of memories of the love of my life! - Liza [ El Paso, TX ]

Someone i don't know that much about drinking or doing drugs because i've never had any contact with any of that stuff - very close. I did have a friend who these things affected her, not because she did them but because her step-brother did them. They hurt her bad she used to cry about it and come to school so depressed because of theses things. It was all because of the things her brother did. It hurt her, and me also b/c he was also my friend. I don't know where he is today(the step-brother) or what he is doing, but I know his life is pretty much ruined because of the things he did, and he needed help someone to talk to but there was no one there at least thats what he thought - there is always someone there someone waiting to listen you just have to speak, because there is someone. - st [ Earth, TX ]

Believe This isn't a story, it's more of a message but I thought it needed to be heard because I heard it and now I'm really trying to change. I don't know how many of you believe in the bible or going to church or Jesus or even the Lord, but I'm here to tell you about them. I was raised in the faith and I'm just now realizing how important it is to have faith and go to church and be baptized and really believe. I am really trying to change from doing wrong things because in the Lords eyes there is no such thing as a small sin, and a big sin - there all the same. Scary I know that's why we all need to change. I'm not sure how much of this is making sense but I thought it was something that needs to be heard. I'm not through I could type all day about this but I'll just keep writing separate stories and really hope I reach someone - anyone even if it's just one person it will make me the happiest person alive. - slt [ Earth, TX ]

My friend My friend has a step-brother who was my friend too. He had a problem with drinking, and some other bad stuff. Eventually he was involved in a couple of car wrecks where luckily nobody was hurt, but he now has that reputation, and he was my friend. You should see how much my friend hurt from these decisions her step-brother has made. He is just a mess, graduated high school, but no college. He's ruined. He could have turned out great but instead all of this happened. He actually used to work for my dad also, so I cared for him, more than just being my friends step-brother. The message from this story is don't drink or do drugs or even hang out with the wrong people - it can ruin your life - and the people who care for you. - ST [ Earth, TX ]

a friend my friend died in car crash she was only 14. I only knew her for a week. she and her boyfriend went to the movies and the boyfriend pass the red light and another car hit there car. she died in the crash i didn't know her like other people know her. but it is sad when someone u love died. That is why teens need to be careful. - Amaris [ El Paso, TX ]