Skip to Main content

Drunken Driving Accident Survivor to ‘Speak’ at ASU

April 06, 2010

In recognition of April as Alcohol Awareness Month, Angelo State University’s College of Nursing and Allied Health is partnering with several local agencies to bring inspirational speaker Sean Carter to ASU on Tuesday, April 13, to present his program, “When Sean Speaks…”

The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. April 13 in the ASU Auditorium and is open free to the public. It will also include “beer goggle” and rollover accident simulations by the San Angelo Police Department (SAPD) and Texas Department of Transportation, with Carter’s presentation to begin at 7 p.m. The Auditorium is located in the Mayer Administration Building, 2601 W. Ave. N.

Eligible students who attend will be entered into a drawing for a $250 scholarship to ASU donated by A-B Distributing of San Angelo.

Carter suffered severe injuries and brain trauma in March of 2005 when he was involved in a drunken driving accident. He was riding in a pickup truck with friends after a night of drinking when the truck spun out of control and hit a tree. After 39 days in a coma, Carter awoke unable to speak or walk.

Using a power wheelchair and a “talking” computer into which he types his words, Carter travels to schools throughout Texas to speak frankly to students about the choices and circumstances that led to his injuries. Along with his mother, Jenny, he also shares the faith and perseverance that it took for him to overcome his handicaps and become an inspirational speaker.

Carter’s ASU appearance is also being sponsored by San Angelo Community Medical Center, the SAPD and the Concho Valley CARES Coalition. Financial considerations have been provided by A-B Distributing, Safe Kids Coalition, Fairfield Inn & Suites and KLST/KSAN TV.

Alcohol Awareness Month is an annual public awareness campaign that encourages communities to focus on alcohol and alcohol-related issues. It also strives to increase awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving during the prom and graduation season.

According to the SAPD, there were 172 alcohol-related traffic accidents in San Angelo in 2008 and 134 in 2009.