NEWS

First DUI victims sign unveiled on Friday

The Leaf-Chronicle

CLARKSVILLE , Tenn.— The first sign of a new memorial program to recognize victims of drunk driver crashes was unveiled on Madison Street on Friday.

Tyler Head's family stand under his memorial sign after it was unveiled on Friday on Madison Street. The Tyler Head Law allows innocent victims killed in impaired driver accidents be memorialized by street signs. The law goes into effect July 1.

Sponsored by Rep. Joe Pitts of Clarksville and Sen. Kerry Roberts of Springfield, a new law that goes into effect July 1 will allow immediate families of DUI victims to apply to the Tennessee Department of Transportation to have a memorial sign erected that reads “Impaired Driving Costs Innocent Lives.” Each sign will also carry the name of someone killed by an impaired driver.

Tyler Head's mother Gina Head-Heiber and his sister Abbey Head react to seeing his memorial sign on Madison Street for the first time on Friday. The Tyler Head Law allows innocent victims killed in impaired driver accidents be memorialized by street signs. The law goes into effect July 1.

The law is named for Tyler Head, an Austin Peay student killed on his way to class in 2012 by an impaired driver on Madison Street. His mother, Gina Head-Heiber, contacted Pitts and Roberts and asked them to sponsor the legislation to enact this new program as a means to honor innocent victims, and raise awareness of the high cost of driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

State Sen. Kerry Roberts speaks with Gina Head-Heiber, mother of Tyler Head, during a ceremony for the passing of the Tyler Head Law. The Tyler Head Law allows innocent victims killed in impaired driver accidents be memorialized by street signs. The law goes into effect July 1.

"Hopefully there will not be very many wrecks like Tyler's anymore," said Head-Heiber of the new law. "It means Tyler's name will be out there and I don't want any families to go through what we've been through. It's devastating."

Mothers Against Drunk Driving was also instrumental in getting the new law passed. MADD's Kate Ritchie attended committee hearings and offered testimony in support of the legislation.

"We are memorializing Tyler —  making sure he did not die in vain — and to try to keep other families from experiencing the same tragedy," Pitts said.

He hopes the signs will raise awareness of the impact of impaired driving.

Tyler Head's mother Gina Head-Heiber hugs State Rep. Joe Pitts at the unveiling of Head's memorial sign on Madison Street on Friday. The Tyler Head Law allows innocent victims killed in impaired driver accidents be memorialized by street signs. The law goes into effect July 1.

Austin Peay State University Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Rex Gandy presented Head-Heiber with a diploma for Head posthumously at the ceremony.