Drunk driving problem exists, even locally
A night time stroll around town. No big deal. Until that car you didn’t see hits you going 50 mph.
That’s exactly what happened to Evelyn Petersen on Aug. 17. And the person behind the wheel was drinking.
Petersen was going to start her senior year at Utah State University studying family and human development, and now that has been postponed until she can recover, she said.
Petersen was struck on her right side while walking across the intersection at 400 North and 400 East, she said. Her right leg was shattered, her elbow, shoulder, ribs and clavicle were all broken. Her lung was punctured and there was some bleeding in her brain. Petersen was walking with a friend that night.
“He tried to pull me back, but I guess I didn’t see the car and got hit,” she said. “It’s the hardest thing that’s ever happened to me.
“Raising awareness [of drunk driving] is important because this is such a horrible thing to happen,” she said.
And she doesn’t want it to happen to anyone else.
While alcohol-related problems aren’t something most people generally think about in Logan, the problem exists and is very real and affects many people.
While Kevin Mortensen, the 26-year-old man who hit her, wasn’t legally drunk, he did hit her while under the influence of alcohol, Petersen said.
Drunk drivers are rare in Logan, said Captain Russ Roper of the Logan City Police Department.
“Surprisingly, not many drunk drivers crash,” he said.
In 2002, there were 200 DUI arrests in Logan, Roper said. A lot of that has to do with the fact that many people are taking more responsibility when they drink, he said. Motorists who have been drinking have designated drivers, call cabs and are more aware of the dangers of drunk driving.
While not many people are drinking irresponsibly, it is still an issue that needs to be addressed. Alcohol affects many people and not just those who drink and drive or those hit by drunk drivers.
Some residents in Logan are addicted to alcohol. A local Alcoholics Anonymous chapter meets every night to help people cope with this life-changing problem, said Kris, an A.A. member.
A.A. is a group of people that meet together with a common problem and work on a common solution, Kris said. A.A. is for people who have a drinking problem, she said.
More than one drink per hour, more than three per night and drinking regularly or every day can lead to a drinking problem, said Jana Carling, prevention specialist at the USU Wellness Center.
Carling said she works with students on prevention of abuse and use of alcohol and drugs.
Many times, a drinking problem is an indication of other problems as well, Kris said.
The A.A. program helps people cope with these issues, she said.
“I’ve been sober for 12 years and I’m still working on issues,” Kris said. “Life doesn’t go away.”
Carling said the alcoholism problem isn’t widespread but still is an issue that needs to be addressed and people in Logan and at USU need to be aware of this.
“When you see individuals, you see a problem,” Carling said.
The students Carling helps are real people with a real problem, and while their numbers are not great, they are people too that need help. And help is available for those who ask, she said.
The USU Wellness Center provides information on counseling, support groups, and other resources for coping. And it’s not just for those with an actual drinking problem. There are many resources for family members of people who have a drinking problem.
A group called AlAnon is a support group for families. This group meets at the hospital every Sunday at 6:30 p.m., Kris said.
Alcohol can have devastating effects on people and their friends, family and even their community.
Drunk drivers are not a huge issue in Logan but one that needs to be acknowledged, Roper said.
Logan City police officers are very aware of this issue and take precautions to help prevent drinking and driving, Roper said. Between midnight and 2 a.m. police officers are asked to be very alert and on the lookout for drivers who can be a potential danger to themselves or to others.
“We live in a nice place; people are good here, police are good here and they are working well together,” Roper said.
This week is National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week, Carling said. There will be activities Wednesday and Thursday informing students about drunk driving.
The theme of the week is “Know your limit, zero-1-3,” Carling said. “Zero-1-3 represents zero alcohol intake, no more than one drink in an hour and no more than three drinks in a night.”
-gmk@cc.usu.edu