Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Public Invited To Hear Victim Mother, Drunken Driver Speak At BCHS Wednesday Night

WHAT: DUI Presentation

LOCATION: Barron Collier High School Auditorium, 5600 Cougar Drive, North Naples.

WHEN: Wednesday, April 18

TIME: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

SUMMARY: A woman whose daughter died in a DUI crash and the drunken driver who killed her will talk about the dangers of drinking and driving.

Renee Napier and Eric Smallridge will share the stage during a presentation open to the community Wednesday evening.

The presentation is sponsored by the Collier County Sheriff's Office in partnership with Drug Free Collier, County Public Schools District and Community School of Naples.

Napier’s daughter Meagan was one of two young women killed in a DUI crash in 2002. Smallridge, the driver, was sentenced to 22 years in prison.

In the midst of grieving for her daughter, Napier came to forgive Smallridge, who decided to make something positive out of his tragic mistake.

Less than two years after Meagan’s death, Napier began her journey giving DUI presentations to a multitude of audiences.

In April 2010, Smallridge was granted permission to join Napier in her speaking campaign.

Napier and Smallridge travel Florida to raise awareness of driving under the influence.

After their talk, the community will be invited outside to see the mangled car that Meagan and her friend Lisa Jo Dickson were in when they were killed.