This MADD Chapter was started for several reasons, the first being that there was no MADD chapter in northeast South Dakota and with the high rate of alcohol related crashes in our area the services are definately needed. The second reason is that we as volunteers have made a decision to help others who are looking for ways to cope if they or a relative or friend has been involved in an alcohol related crash. 

This chapter is in loving memory to all those who have died because someone made the decision to drink and drive. It is to honor the survivors whose strength is immeasurable as they have had to deal with their losses.  It is also dedicated to the seven family members that we lost in 2003 in two seperate crashes.

It all began on August 23, 2003 Jason Cleveland was drving south of Waubay. Leah Campbell was headed north on her way home to Enemy Swim.  Cleveland who had a blood alcohol content of 0.19 percent entered the wrong lane to speed pass another driver and collided with Leah's vehicle on the top of a hill in a no passing zone.

Leah and her family were on their way home from shopping for school clothes and visiting family members in Watertown on that late Saturday afternoon. Killed were Leah 23, all four of her children Skyman Redday Jr 6, Skylynn J. Redday 5, Leeandra M. Redday 3 and Lee M. Redday 1,  Also killed was Leah's 14 year old brother Roger Campbell.  A brother Iver Campbell survived the crash with multiple injuries. A policeman lost his wife and all four of his children. A mother lost two children and four of her grandchildren. This crash was so devasting for the entire family, unbelievable until you saw the caskets all lined up on the day of their funerals.  The real tragedy being is that this crash and thousands of others like them could have been prevented if only one person made the decision not to drink and drive.

On September 21, 2003 Dorothy Gill and her granddaughter Allicia Renville were hit by a drunk driver one Sunday afternoon as they were headed home from visiting family members.  The drunk driver LeeRoy Eldredge crossed into their path and was killed upon impact. 78 year old Dorothy received life threatening injuries and was immediately transported to a hospital in Fargo, N.D. but her injuries were to much for her frail body to handle and she passed away on October 3, 2003. 16 year old Allicia  was sent to a hospital in Minneapolis to recover from multiple injuries and now resides in Watertown as she tries to cope with life without a grandmother who always put others before herself. Again this tragedy didn't have to happen if only one person made the decision not to drink and drive.

The main reason this chapter was started is to educate people on the dangers of drunk driving and to assist the vicims as they try to put the pieces of their lives back together. The concept of getting a designated driver is not hard yet so many people continue to think it's alright to drive after they have consumed alcohol or drugs. I always ask people to imagine what it would be like if they or someone they loved and cared about was killed by a drunk driver. I ask them to stop for a moment and think of all the people they love and care about and how different life would be without them.

I ask them to imagine waking up in jail or in the hosptial after a night of "having fun" and being told you killed someone. The first thing that would go through your mind would be disbelief and then the "I should haves" would start or the I wishes would begin but it would be to late. You won't be able to go back and do it over. You will have changed many lives and you will have to live with the pain and agony that you have caused not only for yourself and another family but for your own family as well.

So please make the decision that you are not going to drink and drive. Its such a simple and easy concept. Make a plan the next time you are going to go out for "a few" and stick to it. Save money to call a cab or ask a relative or friend to come pick you up. Do whatever it takes so that you don't find yourself waking up one morning wishing you could go back and change what happend.

Again, thank you for visiting our website and if you are interested in helping by volunteering or making a monetary donation please feel free to contact us. The pictures below are of Roger, Leah and her babies and also of Grandma Dorothy.