Zero In Wisconsin: Ten Stories, One Vision

Summary

The video script recounts the heart-wrenching stories of individuals affected by drunk driving, emphasizing the devastating and lasting impact on families and victims. It details accidents caused by intoxicated drivers, the tragic outcomes, and the survivors' struggles. The narrative serves as a stark warning about the perils of driving under the influence and a call for a cultural shift towards responsible behavior to prevent such tragedies.

Takeaways

• 🚗 The script recounts multiple tragic incidents caused by drunk driving, emphasizing the severe consequences on individuals and families.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Many of the victims were innocent, including children and families, highlighting the ripple effect of a single drunk driving incident.
• 🍻 Drinking impairs judgment and reaction time, leading to poor decisions such as getting behind the wheel, which can result in fatal accidents.
• 🚑 The immediate aftermath of a drunk driving accident often involves severe injuries or death, with survivors left to grapple with the trauma.
• 🏥 Survivors of drunk driving accidents may face long-term physical and emotional challenges, including paralysis and chronic pain.
• 💔 The loss of a loved one to a drunk driving accident leaves a void that families must learn to live with, often struggling with grief and guilt.
• 🚔 The script underscores the importance of responsible behavior, urging individuals not to drive under the influence of alcohol.
• 🛑 The use of seat belts is crucial in reducing the severity of injuries in car accidents, with several stories illustrating their life-saving potential.
• 🚫 The script serves as a stark warning against the culture of drinking and driving, calling for a change in attitudes and behaviors to prevent further tragedies.
• 🌟 The recurring call for 'zero in Wisconsin' signifies a collective goal to eliminate drunk driving incidents, aiming for zero fatalities.

Q & A

What was the cause of the accident involving Sierra and Michelle?

Sierra and Michelle were coming from a party where they had been drinking. Sierra drove too fast and failed to negotiate a curve, causing their car to hit a tree.

What was the immediate action of the driver who caused the accident with Sierra and Michelle?

The driver who caused the accident did not call 911, use his cell phone, or check on the girls. He left the scene and later stopped to wash the blood off his car.

What is the significance of the phrase 'zero in Wisconsin' mentioned at the end of the transcript?

The phrase 'zero in Wisconsin' is a vision for a future where there are zero fatalities from drunk driving in the state of Wisconsin.

How did the accident affect the family of the driver who hit Sierra and Michelle?

The family of the driver who hit Sierra and Michelle is left with the emotional burden and responsibility of knowing their loved one caused the accident and the deaths of two young people.

What is the common theme among the stories shared in the transcript?

The common theme is the devastating impact of drunk driving on the lives of the victims, their families, and the drivers involved, emphasizing the importance of responsible behavior to prevent such tragedies.

Why did Sierra not drive home after the party?

Sierra had been drinking at the party and was aware that she should not drive. She tried to get someone to pick her up but ultimately made the fatal decision to drive anyway.

What is the role of seat belts as depicted in the various stories in the transcript?

Seat belts are depicted as a crucial safety measure that could have potentially saved lives or reduced the severity of injuries in the accidents described.

What are the long-term effects of the accidents mentioned in the transcript on the survivors and families?

The long-term effects include physical disabilities, emotional trauma, loss of loved ones, and a lifelong struggle with the consequences of the accidents caused by drunk driving.

What is the message conveyed by the individuals who have been directly impacted by drunk driving in the transcript?

The message conveyed is a plea for responsible behavior, emphasizing the severe and lasting consequences of drunk driving, and urging people not to get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol.

How does the transcript portray the aftermath of the accidents caused by drunk driving?

The transcript portrays the aftermath as a series of tragic and life-altering events, including death, injury, and long-term emotional and physical suffering for the victims and their families.

What is the impact of drunk driving on the community as described in the transcript?

Drunk driving has a profound impact on the community, causing loss of life, grief, and a ripple effect of suffering that extends beyond the immediate victims to their families, friends, and the wider community.

Outlines

00:00

🚗 Impact of Drunk Driving

The paragraph recounts the tragic consequences of drunk driving through multiple personal stories. It starts with a mother's account of her daughter's death in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. The narrative continues with a couple's experience of being hit by a drunk driver, resulting in the death of the driver and the couple's friend. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of not drinking and driving, as it can lead to irreversible loss and pain. It also touches on the guilt and regret of a drunk driver who survived a crash that killed others, highlighting the responsibility each individual holds for their actions.

05:00

🏥 The Aftermath of a Drunk Driving Accident

This paragraph delves into the physical and emotional aftermath of a drunk driving accident from the perspective of the victims and their families. It includes accounts of individuals who suffered severe injuries, such as a woman with glass embedded in her forehead and a man who became a quadriplegic after being hit by a drunk driver. The stories underscore the long-term effects on the victims' lives, including the inability to perform daily activities and the emotional trauma of losing loved ones. The paragraph also conveys the message that drunk driving not only claims lives but also shatters the futures of those affected.

10:01

🚔 The Ripple Effect of Drunk Driving

The paragraph explores the far-reaching consequences of drunk driving on families and communities. It features stories of loss, such as a mother who lost her child due to a drunk driver and a man who killed a single mother in an accident. The narratives reveal the deep emotional scars left on the victims' families and the societal impact of such incidents. The paragraph also includes a drunk driver's confession, expressing remorse for his actions and the irreversible damage caused. It serves as a stark warning about the potential outcomes of drunk driving and the importance of making responsible choices.

15:02

💔 The Tragedy of Teen Drunk Driving

This paragraph focuses on the specific issue of teen drunk driving and its devastating effects. It tells the story of a mother who lost her daughter and the daughter's friend in a car accident caused by their own drunk driving. The narrative also includes the mother's reflections on her daughter's attitude towards life and the potential consequences of reckless behavior. The paragraph concludes with a plea for drivers to reconsider getting behind the wheel after drinking, emphasizing the need for a cultural shift towards zero tolerance for drunk driving.

Keywords

💡Drunk driving

Drunk driving refers to the act of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, which impairs the driver's cognitive and motor skills. In the video's context, it is a central theme as it discusses the tragic consequences of such behavior. The script contains multiple accounts of accidents caused by drunk drivers, resulting in fatalities and life-altering injuries. The message is clear: drunk driving is a serious threat to public safety and has devastating effects on individuals and families.

💡Trauma

Trauma, in this context, refers to the physical injuries sustained in a car accident, particularly those severe enough to cause death or permanent disability. The script mentions 'massive head trauma' and other severe injuries as outcomes of car accidents involving drunk drivers. These examples highlight the physical toll that such accidents can take on the human body and underscore the urgency of the message against drunk driving.

💡Survivor's guilt

Survivor's guilt is a psychological condition where an individual feels guilt or emotional distress after surviving a traumatic event in which others were hurt or killed. The script includes narratives from individuals who survived accidents where others did not, and they express deep emotional pain and a sense of responsibility. This concept is integral to understanding the emotional aftermath of drunk driving incidents.

💡Seat belt

A seat belt is a safety device designed to secure the occupants of a vehicle against harmful movement in the event of a crash. The script emphasizes the importance of wearing seat belts, as several stories recount how those who wore them survived, while others who did not, suffered fatal injuries. The message is that wearing a seat belt is a simple yet critical action that can save lives.

💡Victim

A victim, in the context of the video, refers to an individual who suffers harm as a result of another's actions, particularly in the case of drunk driving accidents. The script tells stories of various victims, including those who were killed or severely injured due to the negligence of drunk drivers. The term underscores the innocent and often unintended casualties of drunk driving.

💡Impaired judgment

Impaired judgment refers to the diminished ability to make sound decisions due to factors such as alcohol consumption. In the video, impaired judgment is a recurring theme, as it is cited as a primary cause of drunk driving incidents. The script provides examples of drivers who, under the influence of alcohol, made poor decisions to drive, leading to accidents and fatalities.

💡Paralysis

Paralysis is the loss of muscle function in part of the body due to nerve damage. In the script, one individual recounts becoming a quadriplegic (paralyzed from the neck down) as a result of a car accident involving a drunk driver. This keyword is a stark reminder of the severe and life-altering physical consequences that can result from drunk driving.

💡Invincible

The term 'invincible' is used in the script to describe the overconfidence and disregard for personal safety that some individuals, particularly young people, may feel. It is mentioned in the context of young drivers who believe they can handle drinking and driving without consequence. This attitude is criticized in the video as a dangerous misconception that can lead to tragic outcomes.

💡Consequences

Consequences refer to the results or effects of an action. In the video, the term is used to discuss the severe and often irreversible outcomes of drunk driving, such as death, injury, and long-term disability. The script emphasizes that the consequences of drunk driving extend far beyond the immediate accident, affecting the lives of victims, their families, and the drivers themselves.

💡Responsibility

Responsibility in the context of the video pertains to the duty or obligation to act with care and avoid causing harm to others. The script includes accounts of individuals who, through their actions of drunk driving, failed to uphold this responsibility and caused harm. The video serves as a call to individuals to recognize and accept their responsibility to make safe choices, such as not driving under the influence.

💡Support system

A support system refers to the network of people who provide emotional and practical assistance to an individual. In the video, the loss of loved ones due to drunk driving accidents leaves families and friends without their support systems. The script highlights the importance of these networks and how their loss can exacerbate the emotional trauma experienced by those affected by drunk driving incidents.

Highlights

Sierra and Michelle were involved in a fatal car accident after drinking and driving.

The driver of the car that hit Sierra and Michelle did not stop to help or call for assistance.

The impact of a drunk driving accident can last forever, affecting families and individuals deeply.

The importance of wearing a seatbelt is emphasized through tragic stories of those who didn't.

A mother lost her life due to a drunk driver, leaving behind two young children.

The guilt and regret of a drunk driver who caused a fatal accident.

The physical and emotional aftermath of a drunk driving accident on the driver and their family.

A plea for drivers to consider the potential consequences of their actions behind the wheel.

The tragic loss of a child due to a drunk driver, emphasizing the ripple effect on the family.

The story of a young man who died on his birthday due to a drunk driver, highlighting the preventable nature of such accidents.

The long-term physical disabilities suffered by a victim of a drunk driving accident.

The emotional and psychological impact of losing a loved one to a drunk driver.

A personal account of the devastation caused by a drunk driving accident that killed a young mother.

The call for societal change to prevent drunk driving and promote safety on the roads.

The personal loss and the broader community impact of a drunk driving accident that killed a promising young student.

The devastating realization of the irreversible consequences of drunk driving on the driver and the victim's family.

A mother's plea to drivers to reconsider getting behind the wheel after drinking, sharing her family's tragedy.

The repeated chant 'zero in Wisconsin' as a call to action for zero tolerance on drunk driving.

Transcripts

my daughter Sierra and her friend

Michelle killed marar acent they were

coming from a party they both had been

drinking and um she drove way too

fast my girlfriend and I were coming

from Madison and we were hit by a drunk

driver she died and so did the guy that

hit us he died of massive head trauma

and had even wearen toy felt at a time

probability that he's survive would have

been

great he left her there uh he didn't

call 911 he didn't use his cell phone he

didn't go to see what was if she was

okay or not he left and he stopped on

his way home and watched the blood off

his

car I heard the voice

screaming and I kind of covered my head

and I could hear um the window

shattering The Voice screaming

and then all of a sudden everything was

quiet you know you you don't want

somebody getting

killed and and ruining your whole life

because somebody had to have a drink or

two before they went

home when you as an individual or you

put somebody else or a family in this

position or you kill

them it's

forever as my only sister was killed in

an automobile accident in the winter

time due to the driver driving too fast

for

conditions a one-year-old cannot take

the shock of going from highway speed to

nothing like that because that's what

kills me stop the

heart I found out at at the crash scene

that a woman had died um she was a

single mom and had two young children

and she died instantly because of me a

drunk

driver me and a couple friends were out

drinking and partying and um we decided

to get in the car and drive that night

and um you know I buckled my seat belt

right away cuz it's just something I've

always done my parents have taught me to

do and um we were going around a corner

and we were probably going about 70 M an

hour you know I knew it was coming they

knew it was coming to a couple cuss

wordss came out and um as we take the

corner we started to roll and I'm

sitting upright in the

car and um you know I started scre

screaming you know what happened where

are you guys I'm screaming Matt dery

Kyle where are you guys and kind of look

around nobody's in the car I'm all alone

so I unbuckle my seat belt cars smashing

all around me I can't get any doors open

but um I crawled out a window and I seen

um my boyfriend Matt lying there right

away and he was lying on his back like

he was sleeping so I actually knelt

beside his head and I lifted it up and

there was a hole the size of probably a

baseball lots of blood you know he's

dead but you don't want to believe it

kind of thing I was the only one wearing

a seat belt and um you know the boys

they were just they were having a good

time they were all laughing and I even

said you know we're going kind of fast

you guys put your seat belt on they just

just didn't think it could happen to

them you know with the alcohol impairing

their judgment they just didn't think I

guess my 27 year old son was a teacher

uh was returning uh from a reception

actually on his birthday and was

involved in a car accident and died uh

and unfortunately wasn't wearing a seat

belt at the time yeah according to the

uh Physicians it was U the cause of

death was head trauma so in all

likelihood he would have survived had he

been wearing a seat belt you know for a

long time I didn't wear a seat belt and

it's unfortunate that tragedy has to

impact on you before you see the import

of this very very simple task it takes

two seconds to buckle up um you're

putting your life in jeopardy and you're

putting children's lives in jeopardies

when you don't buckle up take that two

seconds just to buckle

up my friend was killed by the drunk

driver and she was a sergeant here in

Wasa an army recruiter uh the drunk

driver was passing a vehicle and we were

going 65 M an hour and he was too due to

the accident you know getting hit by a

drunk driver and the fact that I was not

wearing a seat belt and I was not a seat

belt wearer before that accident I ended

up having injuries that I had to deal

with u ending up in the hospital for two

months having glass in my forehead

because of hitting a windchill and I'm

still getting working on getting that

glass

out

my ex-wife and I were

driving um back from taking a load of U

boxes or whatever to a new home we were

moving into and um we had to make a stop

at a truck stop cuz one of my daughters

had to go to the bathroom and we were in

separate

cars at the same time a young uh man man

was celebrating his 18th birthday with a

bunch of his friends and um he was

coming back from the celebration

traveling at high rate Speed without his

headlights

on and just as I was getting ready to

cross the highway this young kid hit me

broadside and his car exploded went up

in the air um bounced off a park car in

a truck St parking lot and threw him out

of the car and and then eventually his

car landed on top of him they literally

had to scrape him off the ground that's

and he died in the uh accident my car

went up into the air flipped three times

in the air without even touching the

ground when I finally landed my car um

slid like about 300 ft down the um

Highway the condition that I've been

left in um is I'm a c45 quad I'm

paralyzed from about the middle of my my

chest down uh I feel nothing from that

down um the splints on my wrist helps to

stabilize my wrist to keep them straight

so I can drive my wheelchair and do

other things I have no use of My Fingers

um there's no dexterity in my fingers at

all if I hadn't been hit by this

speeding young um drunk driver I would

have been able to do a lot of same

things everybody else does every day um

or when they go on vacations or so on

and so forth um I wouldn't be limited to

just this life in the wheelchair well

the things I used to love to do prior to

my accident I played guitar for about 18

years and um I used to love swimming I

used to love play

football uh as odd as it sounds I used

to love the mole lawn it was especially

frustrating when uh my

grandson came up to me one day when he

wanted to give me a kiss goodbye and he

put his arms up to me and he said uh you

know Papa to give me a kiss and I

couldn't reach down and pick him up for

people that say that it's okay to drink

and drive I tell them to more or less

take a a roll or a step in my shoes for

6 months and they'd find that um the

urge to drink and drive would go away

really

fast my daughter Amy Stam Kubler was hit

by a drunk driver while she was jogging

along the road and she was struck so

hard that she went 500 ft into a deep

ditch Amy was married and her husband

had come home that night and found her

that found her not home so he had he

looked around and he saw that she had

some of her um jogging clothes was gone

so she thought he thought maybe she was

still out running but it was 10:30 at

night by that time and so he called my

son who lived about 3 four miles away

and he came over really quickly saw a

shoe in the on the highway near where

their house is and they call 911 and my

son went down into the ditch and where

the shoe was and found her there and

neither one had ever seen anybody die

before they loved her so much if this

hadn't happened to our family to my

daughter I think we'd be happy we're not

happy we're never really totally happy I

think more than anything we would have

her here and we'd be able to laugh and

hug her and have her children be raised

while we're around it's like the worst

thing a parent could ever imagine losing

a child one thing I would say to anyone

who gets in the car after they've been

drinking or using anything that would

impair them is don't take anybody's life

in in your hands you could hurt an

innocent child an innocent person you

people go off the road all the time and

they think oh I didn't hit anybody but

that man that hit my daughter went off

the side of the road and he hit

somebody my husband Walter are

14-month-old old son Matthew and I went

up to we're going up to Three Lakes um

it was on a Saturday evening and we were

going up to visit my husband's parents

we were on Highway 45 about 7 miles

north of New London when my husband

noticed a pickup truck coming down going

south on 45 and he also noticed that

this pickup truck was crossing over the

center line into our lane well my

husband tried to steer the car in out of

the way he couldn't get it far far

enough out of the way though and we were

hit head on more toward my front part of

the car my husband seconds after the

crash I'm sure could tell that both

Matthew and I were unconscious they came

and got us and took us to the New London

Hospital where Matthew was pronounced

Dead on

Arrival what happens when you drive

drunk uh how it affects Families how it

that it's not just a a a headline in the

paper a blurb on the news that it's real

that it affects people their whole life

and that it's wrong and I don't know how

they live with it because I know how

we've adjusted to lose him but how they

adjust to the fact that their whole life

they've got to know and remember that

they actually killed someone I don't

know how they can deal with

that I was on my way up North to go

fishing at our cabin and um

in on the way up North I drank in the

car I had driven drank and drove before

just north of wasaki I drifted across

the center line of the road and I hit

another car headon I found out at at the

crash scene that a woman had died um she

was a single mom I didn't give her a

chance you read the autopsy report the

injuries were massive internal injuries

she died instantly I didn't give her a

chance

um I heard those words go into my brain

I understood them I registered I knew

what that meant but I don't know what

the words are to explain the feeling you

have when you're responsible for killing

someone through a drunk driving crash

many people take drinking and driving

for granted sometimes it seems to be a

culture in Wisconsin and and it's

something that just people H do without

another thought I had drink and drove

many times this was the first time

anything has ever happened to me I've

never had a drunk driving although I

should have had many I've never been

involved in a crash and my first Crash

from a drunk driving incident cost the

life of another human being and um I had

to deal with that it has not been an

easy road to deal with it's been a

tremendously Hard Road to deal with that

but it doesn't compare anything to what

that woman's family has had to go

through they lost a mom they lost a

sister um they they lost a daughter and

they've got to live with that that for

the rest of their life there's there's

nothing I can do to bring her back you

think that it's not going to happen to

you I'm here today to tell you that it

can happen to you it happened to me I

didn't think it was going to be me but

it is so the dangers of drinking and

driving are tremendous the the the

ramifications are huge and we don't

think about that and I think the reason

we don't think about it is because we're

selfish we're doing what we want to do

and we don't think it's going to hurt

anybody else

but it does it hurts far more people

than we can begin to imagine And if

every individual will just take a little

step forward and make a change and not

get behind the wheel we can start to

take the culture Wisconsin and turn it

we can start to get to the zero in

Wisconsin we can make this work if we

all try

together the relationship between my

sister and I was more than just sisters

considering my sister was 12 years

younger than me it was almost like she

was not just a sister but almost a child

to me and we were very close uh she had

many things going for her she was going

to graduate from high school that year

um she was killed 3 months before

graduation I would say anyone who thinks

that they are an experienced enough

driver or I've been driving for I don't

care how many number of years and thanks

that they can drive as fast as they want

and winter road conditions that are

dangerous they absolutely wrong uh even

going 10 under the speed limit most of

the time is not slow enough you can't

control a vehicle when you hit ice you

can't control a vehicle that's coming

towards you and hope that they're going

to

stop I was affected by my husband being

hit by a drunk driver we were coming

home from the Madison mards Baseball

Team game it should not have happened my

husband was crossing the street in a

crosswalk a lighted crosswalk when this

lady hit

him

um I'm you know it's it's just a very

very terrible thing that happened to our

life in one minute you have this

wonderful life that you have a husband

that's that's always there and you're

always doing something with and and the

next minute you don't have anything at

all your your life is just just

gone my daughter SI and her friend

Michelle were at a party Sierra had been

trying to get somebody had been calling

friends trying to get somebody to come

and pick her up cuz she knew she had

been drinking she had shouldn't be

driving uh subsequently when they fled

the party they were operating way too

fast failed to negotiate a curve and

their car went uh sideways into a tree

at a high rate of speed and and it they

both died instantly from the uh from the

impact these teens think they're

Invincible my daughter told me three

weeks before she died if I can't have

fun I don't want to live and I said to

you know Sierra those consequences

sometimes are deadly and then she proved

it since Sierra's died our whole life

has changed our daughter she didn't

graduate from high school she'll never

get married she'll never go to college

she'll never have children every day

every minute of each day I live with my

daughter's my daughter's death the the

choice that she made that night affected

so many people not only did she take

herself she took her best friend with

her Rose is right there isn't there

isn't a day goes by um you look at

everything much differently all we can

do is do whatever we can so somebody

else doesn't go through the same

experience that we

have if someone thinks that they're okay

to drive after they've been drinking

alcohol I would like to take them by the

hand and walk one black up from my house

and go visit my daughter's grave and her

friend Michelle's just right down the

way I go see my daughter every morning

and every night before I go to bed

that's how I see my daughter so if you

think you're okay to drink and then

drive you you have a you have a roote

Awakening very roote Awakening I love

this every single day that's how I get

to see my

daughter zero in Wisconsin zero in

Wisconsin zero in Wisconsin zero in

Wisconsin zero in Wisconsin zero in

Wisconsin a vision we can all live with

a vision we can all live

with