Mobile memorial a sobering sight in Antlers

Updated: 7:05 PM Jul 9, 2009

ANTLERS, OK -- A tragic car crash that killed a Texas Tech student three years ago has spurred one Texoma police officer to step up the fight against drunk driving here at home. He is taking a mobile memorial across Texas and Oklahoma in hopes that by sharing the victim's story, young people will think twice before they drink and drive. Rita Kotey has more.

Posted: 6:23 PM Jul 9, 2009
Reporter: Rita Kotey
Email Address: rita.kotey@kxii.com

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Paris Police officer Sam Owens says even though he never knew 21-year old Amber Menefee, he wants to share her story by using the vehicle she was driving as a visual representation of what could happen when people drink and drive.

On February 11, 2006, Amber Menefee was headed home on the west loop in Lubbock when a car driving the wrong direction hit her car head-on. The driver, Erin Regan, had a blood alcohol level of .147. Menefee was killed on impact.

"Amber was enjoying her first month at Texas Tech. She was one of 11 or 12 kids, and the first one to go to school. She was enjoying life," Officer Owens says.

Officer Sam Owens says the tragic loss of the 21-year old motivated him to get involved in drunk driving education.

Using Menefee's vehicle he travels across Texas and Oklahoma to talk with high school students and young adults about how a drunk driving crash changed everything for Menefee's family and how easy it is to prevent tragedies like this.

"In Paris we deal with a lot of drinking and driving accidents, fatalities, and it’s something that we don't have to do. It's a senseless act, and it’s preventable. And I think that if we can get out there and change one person's life then we have accomplished what we are trying to do," Owens says.

On Thursday, Owens took the mobile memorial to a church in Antlers to talk with a group of young adults. Even after seeing the memorial, Owens says a common reaction is "It won't happen to me." But he hopes the image of video from the scene of the crash and of Menefee's crushed and mangled vehicle will keep them from making the same choice Regan did.

Owens say he and a few other volunteers work only on donations to take the mobile memorial to students.

For more information, check the link below.

On the Web:

http://www.ambersmobilememorial.org

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