The Crusader Newspaper Group

The Dangers of Driving Drunk: Life after causing death

One in five Indiana high school students say they recently rode in a vehicle driven by someone who had been drinking alcohol. Young people may often think they are invincible, until the unthinkable happens and changes lives forever.

To help ensure young people understand the dangerous impact drunk driving can have on many lives, the Indiana Youth Institute (IYI) and Geminus Corporation are hosting a powerful event that will give youth workers, parents, teachers and other caring adults a strong message to take back to the young people in their lives.

The forum will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (CDT) on Tuesday, April 26 in the basement meeting room of the Geminus Building, 8400 Louisiana Street in Merrillville.

Chris Sandy was driving drunk when he was involved in an accident that killed an elderly couple. Sandy now travels the world raising awareness about the risks and consequences of underage drinking. Sandy also wrote a book “Enduring Regret: Chris Sandy’s Life after Causing Death.”

Sandy will be joined by his colleagues Jaden Maxwell and Eric Krug. Krug was a standout college baseball player until he got into a car driven by a friend who was drunk. Their car crashed, killing Krug’s best friend and leaving him with a traumatic brain injury that rendered him unable to speak.

Jaden Maxwell’s father was killed by a drunk driver when he was just 7 years old. After his death, his mother gave him a box of his father’s belongings. Inside, he found a magic trick that sparked his passion to become an illusionist. He now uses that platform to spread the message about staying alcohol and drug free.

As part of IYI’s Youth Worker Café program, the forum and lunch are free, but reservations are required. Please RSVP at www.iyi.org/ywc. If you have trouble with the link, contact IYI Statewide Outreach Manager Debbie Jones via phone at (800) 343-7060 or via email at [email protected].

Youth Worker Cafés are designed to bring together local youth workers to build relationships and inspire collaborations that will benefit children. This Youth Worker Café is funded in part by Meridian Health Services. For more information on this event, contact IYI Northwest Indiana Outreach Manager Stephen Gill via email at [email protected].

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