A volunteer for the Kansas City chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving encourages Missourians drinking this Independence Day weekend to have a designated driver. Annette Murray of Lee’s Summit doesn’t want others to experience the tragedy that she and her family have gone through.
MADD volunteer reminds Missourians to have a designated driver this July 4 weekend
“My sister and my niece were killed by a drunk driver on July 4, 2011. It was an illegal immigrant that was driving the wrong way on 435 at 8:30 a.m. They were on their way to meet us for breakfast and they never showed up,” says Murray. “Our family always got together for breakfast and then went to a parade in Sugar Creek every year. We can’t do any of those things anymore.
The man who hit them is serving 15 years in prison.
Murray’s brother-in-law was also killed by a drunk driver in 2013. The person who killed him served 120 days in jail.
Murray honors her fallen family members by volunteering for MADD.
“A person drives drunk 80 times before they’re stopped the first time by a police officer. To me, that’s unbelievable. I just can’t believe how common it is,” says Murray.
She helps with fundraising, a law enforcement banquet, support groups and a panel that talks to drunk driving offenders.
