2008 Woodie Awards
Survivor tells firsthand account of life-changing DUI experience
By: Brooke Adams
Issue date: 3/28/08 Section: News
Upbeat music and laughter from hundreds of students filled Warriner Hall's Plachta Auditorium on Wednesday.
That was before Mark Sterner took the stage.
The survivor of a drunken driving accident that killed three of his friends in Florida left many audience members in tears once his story was told.
"The worst part about it is I'm the reason my friends are dead," said Sterner, who drove that night. "That's my real punishment. It doesn't change. It doesn't go away."
Sterner began by explaining the life-changing experience that occurred during spring break of his senior year of college.
While vacationing in Sanibel, Fla., Sterner and four of his friends from his fraternity decided to do what most other college students do - drink alcohol and try to have a good time, he said.
Each of the first five nights of the trip, one person volunteered to be the designated driver. However, on the sixth and final night, no one wanted to be responsible, he said.
After "pregaming," the quintet traveled to a bar where they had more to drink.
"We were going to get out of hand," Sterner said.
When leaving, they decided the least drunk person would drive. Sterner was that person.
Two miles away from their destination, Sterner lost control of the car, killing three of his friends and seriously injuring himself and another friend.
Sterner woke up in a hospital bed two weeks later, where he was greeted by his family - then by two Sanibel police officers. He soon would be charged with three counts of DUI manslaughter and would spend four years in a Florida maximum security prison.
"Instead of being the first person in my family to graduate from college, I was the first to go to prison," Sterner said.
After recounting his personal experience, which he said still is hard to do today, he began to explain the repercussions that he lives with today.
The event was geared toward the Greek community at CMU, but was open to the public. "It's sad, but some people needed to hear it," said Mount Pleasant senior Dave Morey. "You hear about it all the time, but it's good to hear it from someone who has experienced it. It won't affect some people, but it will really hit home for others."
Bay City freshman Jamie Janer said Sterner's presentation was powerful and influential on a lot of people at the event.
"He really made you think about your friends and your own life," Janer said. "He made you realize that this could happen to you."
news@cm-life.com
That was before Mark Sterner took the stage.
The survivor of a drunken driving accident that killed three of his friends in Florida left many audience members in tears once his story was told.
"The worst part about it is I'm the reason my friends are dead," said Sterner, who drove that night. "That's my real punishment. It doesn't change. It doesn't go away."
Sterner began by explaining the life-changing experience that occurred during spring break of his senior year of college.
While vacationing in Sanibel, Fla., Sterner and four of his friends from his fraternity decided to do what most other college students do - drink alcohol and try to have a good time, he said.
Each of the first five nights of the trip, one person volunteered to be the designated driver. However, on the sixth and final night, no one wanted to be responsible, he said.
After "pregaming," the quintet traveled to a bar where they had more to drink.
"We were going to get out of hand," Sterner said.
When leaving, they decided the least drunk person would drive. Sterner was that person.
Two miles away from their destination, Sterner lost control of the car, killing three of his friends and seriously injuring himself and another friend.
Sterner woke up in a hospital bed two weeks later, where he was greeted by his family - then by two Sanibel police officers. He soon would be charged with three counts of DUI manslaughter and would spend four years in a Florida maximum security prison.
"Instead of being the first person in my family to graduate from college, I was the first to go to prison," Sterner said.
After recounting his personal experience, which he said still is hard to do today, he began to explain the repercussions that he lives with today.
The event was geared toward the Greek community at CMU, but was open to the public. "It's sad, but some people needed to hear it," said Mount Pleasant senior Dave Morey. "You hear about it all the time, but it's good to hear it from someone who has experienced it. It won't affect some people, but it will really hit home for others."
Bay City freshman Jamie Janer said Sterner's presentation was powerful and influential on a lot of people at the event.
"He really made you think about your friends and your own life," Janer said. "He made you realize that this could happen to you."
news@cm-life.com
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
michelle
posted 4/26/08 @ 8:28 PM EST
thanks for the story. i'll share it with my high school senior who will be living a college campus next year.
Post a Comment