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Sobering Story
Brothers and Sisters this is from Firefighter Close Calls...link below.
Don't let this happen toy one of our own...
Hey....
This story is about an off duty Firefighter in Illinois with a blood alcohol level of .227 (nearly 3 times the legal limit) who was involved in an off duty crash that killed one and critically injured others a few weeks ago. While this is always a horrible and avoidable situation, this one is worthy of your time. That's because the woman killed was the mother of another Firefighter (not from the same area) and the one critically injured was her husband, that other Firefighters Dad.
Derek L. Winningham, 22, of Sherman (IL) was charged with two counts of aggravated driving under the influence (a charge formerly known as reckless homicide in Illinois) and if convicted, he could face 3 to 14 years in prison. He is charged in connection with this multi-vehicle crash that killed Teresa L. Borero, 43, of Springfield....a Firefighter's Mom. Three others were also hospitalized as a result. One was Borero’s husband who was seriously injured. That's 1 seriously injured Dad of a Firefighter and 1 lost Mom of a Firefighter. Winningham’s pickup rear-ended the Boreros’ van, pushing it into a third vehicle...Winningham was going 81 mph when he hit them, according to a crash re-constructionist....the speed limit on that road was 55 mph.
Teresa L. Borero, 43, (a Firefighter's Mom) of Springfield was pronounced dead at the crash site. A toxicology screening found no drugs or alcohol in her body. Borero’s husband, brother and nephew (a Firefighter's Dad and the relatives) were all seriously injured, although they since have been released from the hospital.
Winningham was on his way home when he crashed into them..and wasn't hurt. The road is a bit dark, but the taillights on the van were working properly. None of that matters: the Firefighter who killed the Mom and seriously hurt the Dad and injured the other relatives of that other Firefighter - blew a .227-nearly 3 times the legal limit. He was drunk.
Each of us have been with other Firefighters who have had too much to drink. I don't know if anyone was with Winningham before this happened or not. But when we do see it, sometimes we intervene, sometimes we don't. That's amazingly sad because each of us has been on crashes where drunks killed someone and we are always "so thankful" that the victims under the sheets weren't anyone "we" knew or loved. But at social and other off duty times, we hang around "Brothers and Sisters"...and see that they are toasted...but yet sometimes, we "shy" away from stopping them from driving. The good news is that in recent years we are more apt to stop it than years ago. But no matter, we still see it and there are still times when we ignore it because of a dozen or so lame excuses on why "we don't wanna get in the middle of it."
Hanging around Firefighters who have been drinking is one thing. Letting them drive is another.
Take the keys. Lock the car. Sit them down. Hide their car. Pop their tires. Hold them down. Whatever.
Do whatever it takes to not let anyone drive drunk-and especially not your "Brother or Sister" FF....the one who you would risk your life for...and all that other blah blah crap. Wanna save a life? Start with those who drive on the roads and who may encounter a Firefighter who has been drinking. Maybe even save the life of a drunk FF who you don't let drive. Will they get mad? Do you care?
Whatever it takes, just stop it from happening....keep them off the road if they have been drinking...you never know who they may run into. In this case, the Family of another "Brother" Firefighter. And now that Firefighter & his family buried his Mom because of another Firefighter's deadly actions. It's all in the family. B.M.A.
Take Care-BE CAREFUL,
BillyG
The Secret List 9-25-07 / 2249 Hours
www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com
Don't let this happen toy one of our own...
Hey....
This story is about an off duty Firefighter in Illinois with a blood alcohol level of .227 (nearly 3 times the legal limit) who was involved in an off duty crash that killed one and critically injured others a few weeks ago. While this is always a horrible and avoidable situation, this one is worthy of your time. That's because the woman killed was the mother of another Firefighter (not from the same area) and the one critically injured was her husband, that other Firefighters Dad.
Derek L. Winningham, 22, of Sherman (IL) was charged with two counts of aggravated driving under the influence (a charge formerly known as reckless homicide in Illinois) and if convicted, he could face 3 to 14 years in prison. He is charged in connection with this multi-vehicle crash that killed Teresa L. Borero, 43, of Springfield....a Firefighter's Mom. Three others were also hospitalized as a result. One was Borero’s husband who was seriously injured. That's 1 seriously injured Dad of a Firefighter and 1 lost Mom of a Firefighter. Winningham’s pickup rear-ended the Boreros’ van, pushing it into a third vehicle...Winningham was going 81 mph when he hit them, according to a crash re-constructionist....the speed limit on that road was 55 mph.
Teresa L. Borero, 43, (a Firefighter's Mom) of Springfield was pronounced dead at the crash site. A toxicology screening found no drugs or alcohol in her body. Borero’s husband, brother and nephew (a Firefighter's Dad and the relatives) were all seriously injured, although they since have been released from the hospital.
Winningham was on his way home when he crashed into them..and wasn't hurt. The road is a bit dark, but the taillights on the van were working properly. None of that matters: the Firefighter who killed the Mom and seriously hurt the Dad and injured the other relatives of that other Firefighter - blew a .227-nearly 3 times the legal limit. He was drunk.
Each of us have been with other Firefighters who have had too much to drink. I don't know if anyone was with Winningham before this happened or not. But when we do see it, sometimes we intervene, sometimes we don't. That's amazingly sad because each of us has been on crashes where drunks killed someone and we are always "so thankful" that the victims under the sheets weren't anyone "we" knew or loved. But at social and other off duty times, we hang around "Brothers and Sisters"...and see that they are toasted...but yet sometimes, we "shy" away from stopping them from driving. The good news is that in recent years we are more apt to stop it than years ago. But no matter, we still see it and there are still times when we ignore it because of a dozen or so lame excuses on why "we don't wanna get in the middle of it."
Hanging around Firefighters who have been drinking is one thing. Letting them drive is another.
Take the keys. Lock the car. Sit them down. Hide their car. Pop their tires. Hold them down. Whatever.
Do whatever it takes to not let anyone drive drunk-and especially not your "Brother or Sister" FF....the one who you would risk your life for...and all that other blah blah crap. Wanna save a life? Start with those who drive on the roads and who may encounter a Firefighter who has been drinking. Maybe even save the life of a drunk FF who you don't let drive. Will they get mad? Do you care?
Whatever it takes, just stop it from happening....keep them off the road if they have been drinking...you never know who they may run into. In this case, the Family of another "Brother" Firefighter. And now that Firefighter & his family buried his Mom because of another Firefighter's deadly actions. It's all in the family. B.M.A.
Take Care-BE CAREFUL,
BillyG
The Secret List 9-25-07 / 2249 Hours
www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Terry Lambert on
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This is sad. We need to look after each other when we are out at events, or just parting. This should not have happend, and to have it happen to a FF's family just makes it worse, if it can even be called that.
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Permalink Reply by Firegal77 on
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There is a disease that seems to run rampant in firefighters.....this disease is known as the "invincibility" disease. So many FFs think they are invincible, and that it won't happen to them...until it does. We need to drive home the point that to the general public we are heros, and mentors. We are looked up to and our actions are mimicked by children. It is our duty to lead by example, to live by the words we preach at seminars and schools and so many other events. Don't make a mockery out of the whole service...When you do something stupid, it reflects on everyone of us in the fire service. We all suffer for it(clearly not enough to stop it YET) Does it have to get to the point of losing lives to understand this? I agree with the fact that we need to look out for each other, and i would further that by saying that it needs to be discussed before your trying to wrestle the keys out of the hands of your fellow FF. I went to a FF party once where they took your keys at the door, no exceptions. I thought it was one of the best ideas I had seen. Then you have to pass the test before you get them back. Nobody is invincible, don't make your friends and family suffer for your stupidity....please It's not worth the pain and suffering that comes afterwards..
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