Impaired driving affects everyone. It’s not just a late-night problem. It happens in broad daylight, in small towns and on rural roads, to people simply going about their day.

An impaired driver can suddenly change your life while you are on your morning commute to work or meeting up with friends in the early afternoon while home on leave from the Navy.

Every 85 seconds, drunk driving injures or kills someone. Two out of three people will be affected by drunk driving in their lives. 

Morning commute blindsided

Just two weeks shy of his 23rd birthday, a father on his way to work was struck by an impaired driver near Monroe, Oregon. That morning changed everything. He fought for his life in the hospital while his wife balanced taking care of their baby, and being there for him, not knowing if he would survive. 

All that’s left of vehicle following a drugged driving crash
All that’s left of vehicle following a drugged driving crash on a morning commute near Monroe, Oregon.

Many assume drunk or impaired driving crashes happen late at night as bars let out or when people drive home from a gathering or party, yet they can happen at any time of day to anyone. Since 2019, drunk driving deaths have increased by 22 percent.

Home on leave from the Navy

Having saved up her vacation time, a 21-year-old woman surprised her parents by coming home on leave from the US Navy. Returning to her hometown of Carlton, Oregon she was excited to spend time with family. As her mom and dad set up a welcome home BBQ, she headed out to reconnect with friends, expecting to return around 5 pm. When she didn’t arrive in time for the celebration, word began to spread of a crash just at the edge of town. An underage impaired driver drove through a 4-way intersection without stopping, hitting and killing her instantly, while her friend who was driving died in route to the hospital.   

Drugged driving crash near Carlton, Oregon
Drugged driving crash near Carlton, Oregon.

Three siblings hit head on 

Three siblings rushing their injured dog to their mom’s veterinary clinic late at night were hit head-on by a drunk driver. Mom, who had been following behind, was on the scene within minutes of the crash. The older brother who was driving died at the scene, while his sister in the front seat passed as the helicopter lifted off the ground, transporting her to a nearby hospital. The youngest sister in the back seat was rushed to the hospital only to later learn that both her siblings were gone. 

The young man who hit them was an acquaintance from their high school. Despite concerned conversations from people in the community who had previously witnessed his reckless driving, the worst happened. Intoxicated, playing chicken with another car on a rural highway near Brownsville, he revved his engine, passing the car and hitting the sedan with the three siblings head on. 

Remains of vehicle after a drunk driving crash near Brownsville, Oregon

Together, we can stop impaired driving 

Impaired driving affects everyone, and it needs to end here.  

Whether you know the victim, are the impaired driver or know the impaired driver, your life will never be the same. Take time to:

  • Protect the ones you love. 
  • Have the difficult conversations.
  • Insist on giving a ride to someone who has had too much to drink.
  • Plan ahead and arrange a ride. 

Become informed and act.  

Every action counts. Every voice matters. Let’s end this together.