Drunk Driving Memorial Comes To Washington

June 16, 2022 4:20 pm

PennDot along with the Highway Safety Network and the PA DUI Association brought the DUI Victims Moving Memorial Wall to Washington. The wall is a replica of the one on display in Harrisburg. It contains 3000 names of people who have been killed by drivers that were driving under the influence. In a ceremony commemorating the loss of those people, local officials were on hand to ask that now that summer is here and celebrations become more frequent, people consider alternatives to getting behind the wheel after celebrating with alcohol or other substances. District Attorney Jason Walsh says that even those with marijuana cards are subject to DUI criminal charges if found to be impaired. Washington County Commissioner Larry Maggi said that the most difficult task he ever had as a state trooper or county sheriff was to tell someone in the middle of the night that they lost a loved one due to a DUI driver. Pennsylvania State Trooper Forrest Allison said that people should consider alternatives to driving impaired such as Uber or designated drivers or just call someone to come and get you. According to PennDot, 450 people were killed in 2021 due to DUI, 10 in Washington County.