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