Officers across the state will soon be increasing patrols for drunk drivers.
He was your typical college student. In 2005, Sean Carter was studying pre-law at Midwestern State University near Dallas. When he wasn't in the classroom, he worked as a model.
Much has changed since that year.
Carter lost two things we value most: the abilities to talk and walk. Standing with the help of a wheelchair, he addressed our cameras Tuesday using a computer to speak.
"I was not doing anything wrong, or so I thought,” he explained.
When he was 22, Carter went out drinking with friends. On the way home the driver, who was intoxicated, crashed into a tree. Carter was in coma for 39 days. When he woke up he was a different person.
"Once I realized what all I was unable to do, life became a living hell,” he said.
He now travels the state with his mom hoping to get others to realize their options. Carter came to Austin to kick off TxDOT's annual "Drink, Drive, Go to Jail" campaign. The theme is "Choose Your Ride." From August 20 to September 6, officers statewide will increase DWI patrols.
"In Austin we're giving you the opportunities,” said APD Commander Steve Baker.
APD will place an additional 16 officers on the roads. On Labor Day weekend, suspected drunk drivers will have to either give a breath or blood sample during a no-refusal initiative.
"If you're not going to take the cabs, take a pedicab, call home,” said Baker.
As a reminder, APD will park this half-cab, half-patrol car on 6th Street. Carter hopes you'll also think of him.
"Think of me and save yourself,” he said. He then ended with an old recording of his real voice, "Thank you very much and have a good day."
The national average for fatalities involving drinking and driving is 33 percent. Here in Austin the numbers are pretty grim. Last year 11 out of 26 fatalities involved drunk drivers. That makes a rate of 42 percent.
