The Catalyst

By Rachel Magdziarz, News Editor

There are a few consequences you face when you carelessly stumble into the driver’s seat drunk. Among these are the destruction of your family and the loss of your heroic status.

In the early morning of Sunday, February 15th John Fullmer IV was thrown from a vehicle driven by his intoxicated friend. Fullmer died instantly, leaving his family shocked and distraught. His brother and best friend, FMHS sophomore Shai Fullmer says he lost his hero that morning.

John IV and Shai shared a relationship that was inconceivable to onlookers. “He was a really great guy, and even though he’s not here, I still feel like someone is watching over me.” Unknowingly selfless, Shai believes that the unfortunate event which took place regarding the life of his brother is going to be taken in as a learning experience. “It happened because people are going to learn from it. People are going to learn how serious it is.”

Before the accident, Shai never thought anything like this would ever happen to him or his family. “At this age, we all feel ten feet tall and bullet proof,” Shai said. “This has just made me realize a lot. You need to tell your family how much you care for them everyday.” Shai strongly believes that, in life, it’s the little things that count.

The Fullmer household hasn’t been the only family recently shattered by a drunk driving accident. The weekend of February 27th, a young mother and her infant daughter died at the scene of a crash when struck by a car belonging to a man driving while intoxicated. The impact of the wreck came with such force that the victims’ vehicle was mutilated into unrecognizable form. Four similar accidents have occurred in the Fruita-Grand Junction area in February alone although the DUI rate has decreased rapidly since 2006.

Driving under the influence is never safe and not only puts your life in danger, but the lives of innocent, unsuspecting strangers as well. According to MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), someone is killed by a drunk driver every forty minutes in America. Shai and his family unfortunately discovered the pain along with thousands of other families devastated by this type of accident. When asked about his views on driving drunk, Shai bluntly stated, “Stupid. That’s the only way to put it. When you’ve been drinking and start to get in a car, you need to think about what you will be putting other people through. If you know you’re going to drink, give your keys to someone else.”