On April 29, 2000, Amie Jo picked up her two and a half year old daughter, ShiAnn, from the babysitters, and planned on running the typical daily errands before her weekly play date with a friend. But that day would turn out to be anything but typical.
While driving to their friend’s house, ShiAnn and Amie Jo were singing, laughing and enjoying the spring day, until Amie Joe saw a truck heading straight for them. Despite a desperate attempt to get out of the way, her car was hit by the truck, forcing it to roll several times. Amie Jo reached back to try to brace ShiAnn from the impact, but was unable to reach her.
When the car came to a stop, she could hear was her daughter screaming, and saw ShiAnn covered in blood from the multiple cuts on her face; the car seat was in pieces.
ShiAnn was careflighted to Children’s Hospital of Dallas where she was immediately taken into surgery, and placed on life support. After three and a half weeks, Amy Jo had to make a decision that no parent should ever have to make—to take her sweet baby off the machines that were keeping her alive–and on May 24th, ShiAnn died on from her injuries.
To make matters worse, the drunk driver, a repeat offender on probation for a previous DUI, fled the scene. He was later found, but released on bail and ran for two years before being captured. At the time of the crash, the driver had an ignition interlock installed in his truck. Unbelievably, his wife blew into it for him, allowing him to drive drunk and kill an innocent child.
Despite the amount of grief and turmoil Amie Jo has been through, she continues to honor her daughter. She is now an active member and volunteer with MADD East Texas, telling her story at MADD Victim Impact Panels® and participating in Walk Like MADD®. Amie Jo says, “This is hard to cope with, but my love for my daughter keeps me strong and with the help from the people at MADD, I can share ShiAnn’s story and let it be known that this has to stop.”
This Sunday, ESPN will air an episode of Outside the Lines (a program that examines critical issues in American sports on and off the field of play) focusing on the case of repeat drunk driving offender, Reggie Rogers. Rogers was an All-American defensive end and a first round draft pick for the Detroit Lions.
In 1988, Rogers ran a red light at 60 MPH and crashed his car into another vehicle, killing three teenagers. Rogers was drunk behind the wheel, but he served less than 13 months in prison for negligent homicide.
Bob Willett, the father of Kenny Willett, who was killed in the crash, is an active volunteer for MADD Michigan, and is featured in the Outside the Lines episode. View a preview of the episode featuring Bob Willett sharing his story of the night Kenny and his cousins were killed.
Rogers' first DUI arrest came while he was a football player for the University of Washington, and in the fall of 2011, Rogers was sentenced to one year in jail following his sixth DUI conviction.
This episode of Outside the Lines airs Sunday, February 26, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. EST.
MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® calls for ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers in order to reduce this type of reckless recidivism. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ignition interlocks, on average, reduce drunk driving recidivism by 67 percent.
For more information about the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving, visit www.madd.org/campaign.
Recently, The Washington Post ran an article online about the value and impact of ignition interlock devices, and how “state legislatures around the country are taking tough steps to make life even more difficult for those who would drink and drive. Key among the new measures are laws requiring the installation of in-car breathalyzers for all motorists convicted of drunken driving.”
The article states, “Around the country, ignition interlocks have reduced highway deaths when they are mandatory for offenders who drove with a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or more. They have been less effective in states like Virginia, where they are required only for offenders convicted with BACs nearly twice as high — a level at which most people could hardly stand, let alone drive. The legislation now before the state Senate would set the bar in Virginia at the tougher .08 level for all drivers.”
As you know, ignition interlock devices are a key component of the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving®, and you can help get new lifesaving legislation passed by emailing your member of Congress to ask them to contact House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman John Mica about keeping the interlock incentive grant in the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act.
I recently traveled to Tallahassee, Florida to talk with legislators and testify in support of their interlock bill. I was so uplifted by our MADD family during the visit that I came home energized.
I want to tell you about Frank Harris, MADD’s State Legislative Affairs Manager. He organized the entire day, setting up the appointments and directing us to whomever we needed to speak. When I am around him I am in awe, because not only is he is laser focused on the tasks at hand, he passionately believes in the effectiveness of interlocks for saving lives. The amazing thing about Frank is that he does this for every MADD state affiliate working to pass interlock legislation for all convicted drunk drivers.
I want to tell you about Jerry Fifer. He was severely injured by a drunk driver in 2000. Seventeen surgeries later he still struggles with pain in his body. He joined us as we met with Florida legislators. I watched him quietly try to suppress his pain as he climbed the stairs and tirelessly walked the halls of the Capitol. In the last 12 years he has devoted his life and even his career to ending this violent crime. His courage and perseverance is inspiring. On top of that, he maintains a wicked sense of humor and kept all of us smiling as we dealt with our fatigue.
Connie Russell, Jerry Fifer, Kristen Allen, Frank Harris
I want to tell you about Matt’s mom, Connie Russell. Matthew Beard was her only child. He was killed by a drunk driver 5 years ago. Matthew loved scuba diving and was majoring in marine biology at FSU. Since that time she takes Matthew’s story to groups everywhere – to students at FSU, to offenders attending victim impact panels, to Florida’s legislators, and to other groups who invite her to speak. Talk about passion! She has dedicated herself to spreading the message that the outcome of drunk driving can be a horror no one wants to endure. She is persistent in her quest to erase drunk driving. I could truly see Matt’s light shining through her as we spent the day together.
I want to tell you about Kristen Allen, MADD Florida’s Victim Services Manager. I can’t help but smile each time I think of her. She is one of the kindest individuals I have ever met. She always just quietly does what she thinks needs to be done – which is consistently going the extra mile. As a victim advocate, she is supreme. As a friend, one can have no better. Legislators and their staff listened as she spoke, because she shared powerful stories of people she had supported.
I want to tell you about Dr. Richard Roth. He has dedicated the past few years following his retirement as a physics professor to researching the effects of ignition interlocks. He volunteers his personal time to educate legislators around the country on the benefits of interlocks for all convicted offenders. His wealth of knowledge along with Jerry’s and Connie’s personal stories had a one-two punch on the listener.
I want to tell you about Florida State University Police Department. Following our day with the legislators, Major Jim Russell, Deputy Chief of FSUPD, invited us to visit with the officers. They are committed in their work to protect us from drunk drivers. Spending time with them was an uplifting conclusion to an already enriching day. Major Russell and Connie happened to fall in love when working together after Matt’s death. They are now married!
Jerry Fifer, Connie Russell, Maj. Russell, Jan Withers, Dr. Roth
Florida State University Police Department
These folks are relentless in their pursuit of a future where drunk driving is a footnote in our history books. Their dedication is clear – they will not stop until that goal is obtained.
We will not stop. We will never give up. We come together with one goal. We walk arm-in-arm to eliminate drunk driving. Together we will win.
On April 29, 2000, Amie Jo picked up her two and a half year old daughter, ShiAnn, from the babysitters, and planned on running the typical daily errands before her weekly play date with a friend. But that day would turn out to be anything but typical.
