Nicole Lillyh Lalime Houston, TX 12-16-2008

by Valoree Lalime
(Houston, TX, USA)

Nicole Lillyh Lalime was 13 years old in December of 2008. She rode the school bus home that day because it was cold and rainy outside. The bus let her out at the corner only 3 houses down from her home when a drunk driver, speeding down the street going an estimated 65-75 mph, ran 2 stop signs, hit the front of the school bus, accelerated and then hit Nicole, leaving her lying in the street and drove away. It was 3:00 in the afternoon only 9 days before Christmas. Nicole wasn't in the street, she was in the grass. The driver's blood alcohol was .19, almost 3 times the legal limit! He was found 5 miles away. He was a repeat offender and is now serving a 30 year sentence and will not be eligible for parole for 15 years. Nicole wasn't even in a car. She wasn't doing anything risky. If a child could be killed by a drunk driver in this manner, anyone could lose their child this way. This has not only affected her family but also all of her friends and their families and our community. In addition, it has had an impact on the driver's family. Drinking and driving don't mix. Society has accepted this problem as a fact of life. It is time to take a stand and stop accepting it. It is not okay to drink and drive. It is easy to make a plan when you are going to go out for drinks. You can take a taxi, a bus, have a designated driver, stay until you're sober, get a hotel room, stay where you are. But it is important to make your plan before you ever have your first drink. Be responsible, don't drink and drive. Enough is Enough!