Eric smallridge will tell you that he is not the same person he was a decade ago when he was close to finishing a technology degree at the university of west florida. Oct 18, 2016 the mother of a young woman who was killed by a drunk driver in 2002 is doing her part to prevent another tragedy. She and a friend, lisa dickson, were killed on may 11, 2002 by a drunk driver, 24yearold eric smallridge. Eric smallwood, drunken driver, who killed two girls, leaving prison on the right path rickey stokes viewed. Dont risk lives by drinking and driving speaker tells. Renee napier, whose daughter was killed by drunk driver eric smallridge in 2002, did just that wednesday in front of hundreds of shocked suwannee high students when the convicted felon walked onto. A story of pain, redemption and forgiveness in wake of horrific dui crash. Mother and inmate warn teens about driving under the influence. Renee napier had good reason to hate eric smallridge forever, and no one would blame her. Smallridge was drunk when he hit another car in pensacola beach on may 11, 2002. On may 11, 2002, a drunk driver killed my daughter, meagan, and meagans friend, lisa dickson.
According to the video, how often is someone killed in the us by a drunk driver. Napier spoke about her daughter, meagan, who was killed in an accident by eric smallridge, who was driving drunk. Drinking and driving left eric responsible for the deaths of two young women. Eric smallridge and renee napier pose with thomas mahon, assistant principal, and oscar cedeno, dean of students, after their talk at cardinal gibbons high school in fort lauderdale.
Eric smallridge real estate agent keller williams town. In platteville, drunk driver, mother of crash victim share. See the complete profile on linkedin and discover erics. Renee napier, mother of drunkdriving accident victim meagan. Shortly after, renee made it her lifes mission to share meagans story with as many people as possible in hopes of preventing more unnecessary deaths like that of her daughter. The message of heartbreak and avoiding bad decisions was the one renee napier brought to. Eric smallridge and renee napier, who now share speaking engagements, did not know one another until smallridge killed napiers daughter. Incredible acts of forgiveness that will inspire you. Dont risk lives by drinking and driving speaker tells swan. Sep 21, 2017 a story of pain, redemption and forgiveness in wake of horrific dui crash.
Mar 21, 2012 the drunk driver, eric smallridge, is serving an 11year prison sentence for vehicular manslaughter. Promoting forgiveness, mending hearts and saving lives. In 2003 he was sentenced to 22 years in prison on two counts of dui manslaughter for killing both renees daughter meagan and the other young woman in the. Jan 21, 20 forgiveness songmatthew west lyrics video. Florida mother shares story of grief, forgiveness over daughter lost to drunk driving. Mom forgives the drunk driver that killed her daughter. Jun 07, 2017 on may 11 2002, 20yearold meagan napier and her friend lisa dickson, also 20, were driving home from the beach when the jeep driven by drunk driver eric smallridge, then 25, struck lisas mazda, sending it ploughing into a tree. Nov 15, 2016 eric smallridge was the drunk driver behind the wheel of the vehicle that took their lives. The mother of a young woman who was killed by a drunk driver in 2002 is doing her part to prevent another tragedy. I met joseph bermudez of the miamidade pd at a florida crime prevention dinner in october 2009 and he invited me to come. What renee did next stunned the driver and will stun you. Eric smallwood, drunken driver, who killed two girls, leaving.
Then mom writes a letter to judge that changes everything. Smallridge joined her at the event to talk about the importance. My name is eric smallridge, or i should say, it was. Mother and drunk driver promote national teen driver safety week. Forgiving the man that killed your daughter youtube. Mother and drunk driver promote national teen driver safety week the pair are visiting schools in south florida to talk to students about the irreversible consequences of drunk driving. On may 11th, 2002, a drunk driver killed renees daughter, meagan, and meagans friend, lisa. Nearly a decade ago, eric smallridge was driving drunk in pensacola, fla. Dont risk lives by drinking and driving speaker tells swan valley. Eric smallridge, convicted of manslaughter for driving drunk and causing a fatal crash, was released from prison 11 years early thanks to an unlikely source the mother of one of his victims.
Mother and daughters killer take the stage against drunk. The driver, 27yearold eric smallridge, had been partying with friends and was on his way home when the accident occurred around 2 a. A drunk driver apologizes to the family of the person he killed cbc. Mar 22, 2020 the 24yearold drunk driver who caused the crash, eric smallridge, was eventually found guilty of dui manslaughter driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and sentenced to 22 years in prison. Renee napier, meagans mom, shares a story of loss and.
The song was inspired by the true story of renee napier, who chose to forgive eric smallridge, a drunk driver who took the life of her 20yearold daughter. Eric smallridge, from tallahassee, fl killed two young women. Mothers forgiveness gives convict second chance cbs news. The driver, eric smallridge, was sentenced to 22 years in prison. The meagan napier foundation has been a part of this summit since 2010. Like all parents, renee napier loves to talk about her children. She and a friend, lisa dickson, were killed on may 11, 2002 by a drunk driver, 24 yearold eric smallridge. This is moving story about true love and forgiveness. Blood tests taken at the scene revealed smallridge had a.
Eric smallridge had climbed behind the wheel dozens of times after having a drink but on may 11, 2002 his luck ran out. Eric smallridge was on his way home from a bar one night. Mother shares story of daughters death for drunk driving awareness. Nov 02, 2017 renee napier and eric smallridge visited houston academy to speak with students and faculty about the dangers of underage drinking, texting and driving, and driving under the influence. Eric smallridge, who hit and killed two women while driving drunk in 2002, spoke about life choices. Convicted drunk driver, mother of victim killed speak to students. A drunk driver apologizes to the family of the person he killed renee napier and eric smallridge became unlikely friends after smallridge apologized for killing napiers daughter while driving. Florida mother shares story of grief, forgiveness over. I am currently serving a 22year sentence in the florida department of corrections for my role in an accident that claimed the lives of two beautiful, twentyyearold girls, meagan napier and lisa dickson. Convicted of dui manslaughter, smallridge has spent most of the past decade in a jail cell. Apr 19, 2012 eric smallridge had climbed behind the wheel dozens of times after having a drink but on may 11, 2002 his luck ran out. Eric smallridge, 24, was sentenced to 22 years in prison for dui manslaughter. I was inspired when i read about renee napier and how she forgave eric smallridge, the drunk driver who killed one of her twin daughters, meagan. Nov 24, 2017 drunk driver hits and kills 2 young girls.
A story of pain, redemption and forgiveness in wake of horrific dui. Could you forgive the drunk driver who killed your daughter. Eric smallridge, right, speaks to lisa roa, center, of naples, and her children, emily arroliga, 21, and robert roa, 10 following a talk at barron collier high school on march 5, 2015. Aug 15, 2018 may 11, 2002, 20yearolds, meagan napier and lisa dixon became victims of a drunk driver.
Eric smallridge was 24 years old at the time of the accident, and in 2003. Forgiveness emanuel ame church and renee napier stories. Aug 19, 2018 i tell the story in my veteran groups of renee napier who lost her 20yearold daughter megan to a drunk driver. Now, one of the girls mothers has forgiven the man responsible. Because of the decision of one drunk driver, the world dimmed a little less bright, napier said. Dec 19, 2014 on may 11, 2002, meagan, 22, and her friend lisa jo dickson, 22, were killed by a drunk driver, eric smallridge, 24, as they headed home. Mother shares story of daughters death for drunk driving. Dui simulation gives walton, paxton students a jolt of. Florida, eric smallridge and renee napier have struck up a friendship and tour schools to warn against the dangers of drink driving. Drunk driver, mother of crash victim share their story. Meagan napier and her friend lisa jo dickson who were killed by drunk driver eric smallridge on may 11, 2002. Renee napier, mother of drunkdriving accident victim.
Meagans mother, renee napier, appears with smallridge. View eric smallridges profile on linkedin, the worlds largest professional community. This is the story of renee napier and eric smallridge, and the forgiveness, grace, and repentance that grew out of drunk driving tragedy in. Mother forgives the drunk driver that tragically killed her. Personal tragedies emphasize importance of not drinking and. As west explained to ccm magazine, the story made me take a look at my own life and ask myself if id be able to do the impossible, just like she did. Feb 23, 2012 this is the story of meagan napier and her friend lisa jo dickson, who were killed by drunk driver eric smallridge on may 11, 2002. Mother and inmate warn teens about driving under the. The unlikely friendship between a mother and the drunk driver. Eric smallridge, convicted of manslaughter for driving drunk and causing a fatal crash, was released from prison 11 years early thanks to an unlikely source the.
A drunk driver apologizes to the family of the person he. He spent a decade in jail, expecting to be there for a long time, that is until her mother fought to free him out of forgiveness. An anguished eric smallridge begged for forgiveness in his 2002 court appearance. Eric smallridge, 28, was convicted on two counts of duimanslaughter and sentenced to 11 years from 22 years in prison, because both families of meagan napier and lisa dickson asked a judge to cut eric smallridge sentence from 22 years to 11 years. Eric drove drunk and crashed into their car, killing the two 20yearolds instantly. In the midst of grieving the loss of her daughter, renee came to forgive eric, and in turn eric decided to make something positive out of his tragic mistake. Convicted drunk driver, mother of victim killed speak to. Personal tragedies emphasize importance of not drinking.
Distractedimpaired driving presentation news walton high. Mother of dui victim finds peace with her daughters. Personal tragedies emphasize importance of not drinking and driving. Eric smallridge was advised by his lawyer to show absolutely no emotion in court.
After renee napiers daughter was killed by a drunk driver, she did the unthinkable forgave the man responsible. Dec 05, 2019 the driver, 27yearold eric smallridge, had been partying with friends and was on his way home when the accident occurred around 2 a. After some time, she began to forgive eric smallridge, the driver responsible. On may 11, 2002, a drunk driver by the name of eric smallridge struck napiers 20yearold daughter and her friend, killing. The jury did not like his apparent lack of remorse and quickly found him guilty of vehicular homicide.
Oct 18, 2016 mother and drunk driver promote national teen driver safety week the pair are visiting schools in south florida to talk to students about the irreversible consequences of drunk driving. Unlike many toooftenrepeated drunk driving crashes that result in deaths, the sentencing in this case was not the end of the story. In 2003 he was sentenced to 22 years in prison on two counts of dui manslaughter for killing both. Im still blown away every time i hear the story about how youve come to forgive the guy who killed your daughter, said the driver, eric smallridge. The drunk driver, eric smallridge, is serving an 11year prison sentence for vehicular manslaughter. Dui victims mother raises awareness at macdill air. A story of pain, redemption and forgiveness in wake of. I know what it is to be that drunk driver and it doesnt go away. Renee got the phone call no mother wants to hear a drunk driver killed her daughter. This is the story of meagan napier and her friend lisa jo dickson, who were killed by drunk driver eric smallridge on may 11, 2002.
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