By Judy Seifert
(Contact / Staff Bio)
October 10, 2009 - 11:42 a.m. EST
VASSAR — It’s been nearly a year and a half since Shelby Wright’s life was nearly ended by a drunk driver. Happy to be alive, happy to be in college and working, the 19-year-old has moved on, determined to not let the few memories she retains from that night destroy her dream of becoming a pediatric nurse.
“Shelby was still in a wheelchair when she started college the fall of 2008,” said her mom, Susan. “I said to her that maybe she should wait but her words were ‘I’m going. He won’t take this away from me.’”
The accident occurred in May last year, late on a Friday night as Shelby neared her home after attending graduation parties. According to the Michigan State Police, who responded to the accident, Wright was attempting to avoid being struck by a west bound vehicle driven by David Parker, 58, of Bath.
Shelby had pulled her car onto the opposite shoulder of the road, but was still struck. Pinned in her vehicle, both she and Parker were removed by fire personnel and transported to St. Mary’s of Michigan Hospital.
Parker was recently convicted of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, causing serious bodily injury. His sentence has Shelby’s mom upset.
“I thought he should go to jail but he’s not,” Susan said. “He’s a big shot who worked at General Motors. I think that’s why he got off with such a light sentence, at least in my mind it’s a light sentence.”
According to Tuscola County Prosecutor Mark Reene, Parker received five years probation and seven months on an alcohol tether. His blood alcohol level was 1.8 at the time of the accident.
“We requested the maximum probation for Mr. Parker and believe me, we wanted jail time, but the judge has the final say,” Reene explained.
It was Parker’s first offense.
“This case is a reminder to everyone out there to not drink and drive,” Reene said. “The price paid is too high. Both people are lucky to be alive, really.”
For Parker, the cost was probably well over $10,000. For Shelby, the price was months of rehabilitation, weeks in a wheelchair, a leg that has still not healed properly and pain.
“It’s a tragedy, really,” Susan said. “But, I’m so proud of my daughter. She’s strong. She’s a survivor and nothing will stop her now.”
A 2008 graduate of Vassar High School, Shelby received her diploma while recovering at Covenant Hospital. School officials arranged a video conference link so the young woman could share her moment with friends, family and classmates.
Judy Seifert is a staff writer for the Tuscola County Advertiser. She can be reached at seifert@tcadvertiser.com.
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October 12, 2009
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I think that penalties should be more severe than what they are presently. If they were, maybe, just maybe more people would think before they behind the wheel of car.
If the penalties were more severe perhaps I myself would not have gotten behind the wheel of car and tried to drive drunk myself.
The angel that saved me was the police officer that caught me when he did, otherwise I may have injured or killed someone. So I agree with the mother, he should have received a much stiffer sentence.
I have been working here in Japan for the past 7 years now. One thing Japanese have done is most of their cars have an electronic device built in that detects the presence alcohol odor and the car will not start until you breathe in to it. Only a suggestion, maybe all American cars should have something like this as well too. Here in Japan at least driving is a little bit safer because of it, what do you think?
JC