An
Offender's Story
I'm Eric and I'm writing to tell you
how a drunk driver changed my life forever.
That drunk
driver is me.
On
February 20, 1993, I got behind the wheel
of a car drunk. I killed Mr. Charles Hayes
in
a car crash. I took this man away from his
children, grandchildren, friends and so many
other people he was in contact with. The destruction
to his family goes on and on. More
than I can even tell you.
I
would like to tell you the effects it has
had on my family. My mom developed cancer
and
passed away because of the grief I put her
through while drinking and going to prison.
My
youngest daughter developed cancer. Both my
children had a hard time in school when I
was in prison. I could just imagine the hurt
I cause them and the embarrassment my wife
went through. She always told me this would
happen. I should have listened.
For
me, I will have to live with killing Mr. Charles
Hayes for the rest of my life. Yeah, suicide
looks like a good option at times. I wake
up every morning and have to look myself in
the
mirror, which is awful hard at times.
Yes,
on January 21, 1994, I was sentenced to three
years in prison, I should have gotten
fourteen years which is the maximum sentence
for reckless homicide. Prison is a living
hell. Rapes, murder, fights, and riots at
any time could happen. The Devil's playground,
they call it. I deserved to be there.
I
got into recovery from active alcoholism and
drug addiction a month after the crash
happened, after trying to get sober on my
own. Today, I am only alive by the grace of
God
and a twelve-step fellowship group.
The
message I would like to get across is that
you don't want to have to tell a
family you are sorry for killing their loved
one - if you don't want to go to prison
- if you
don't want to be suicidal - if you don't
want to live with destroying a family. This
is
something I said would never happen to me.
I drive better intoxicated. Lies I told myself
to continue to drink and drive. Don't lie
to yourself - this will and can happen
to you if you
continue to drink and drive. I am living proof
of that.
Please
think before you drink. Call a cab, designate
a driver, I wish I would have. I want to
thank AAIM for allowing me to share my story
and speak at Victim Impact Panels
Eric
is a DUI defendant speaker at Victim Impact
Panels in DuPage Co. He's been speaking
for AAIM since he was released from prison.
The sorrow and pain that he feels from killing
Mr. Charles Hayes sends a strong message to
the court ordered defendants attending the
panel.
