He spent a decade in jail, expecting to be there for a long time, that is until her mother fought to free him out of forgiveness. Now, one of the girls mothers has forgiven the man responsible. Distractedimpaired driving presentation news walton high. Dui victims mother raises awareness at macdill air. Drunk driver, mother of crash victim share their story. Convicted drunk driver, mother of victim killed speak to. Because of the decision of one drunk driver, the world dimmed a little less bright, napier said. Eric smallridge real estate agent keller williams town. The driver, eric smallridge, was sentenced to 22 years in prison. Forgiving the man that killed your daughter youtube.
Dui simulation gives walton, paxton students a jolt of. Dont risk lives by drinking and driving speaker tells. Personal tragedies emphasize importance of not drinking. Unlike many toooftenrepeated drunk driving crashes that result in deaths, the sentencing in this case was not the end of the story. Mother shares story of daughters death for drunk driving. In 2003 he was sentenced to 22 years in prison on two counts of dui manslaughter for killing both. Eric smallridge was 24 years old at the time of the accident, and in 2003.
Florida mother shares story of grief, forgiveness over. Florida mother shares story of grief, forgiveness over daughter lost to drunk driving. A story of pain, redemption and forgiveness in wake of horrific dui crash. The unlikely friendship between a mother and the drunk driver. Convicted of dui manslaughter, smallridge has spent most of the past decade in a jail cell.
Eric smallridge was on his way home from a bar one night. Eric smallridge will tell you that he is not the same person he was a decade ago when he was close to finishing a technology degree at the university of west florida. I was inspired when i read about renee napier and how she forgave eric smallridge, the drunk driver who killed one of her twin daughters, meagan. Florida, eric smallridge and renee napier have struck up a friendship and tour schools to warn against the dangers of drink driving. Eric smallridge, convicted of manslaughter for driving drunk and causing a fatal crash, was released from prison 11 years early thanks to an unlikely source the. Personal tragedies emphasize importance of not drinking and driving. She and a friend, lisa dickson, were killed on may 11, 2002 by a drunk driver, 24yearold eric smallridge. Mother and daughters killer take the stage against drunk. Eric smallridge and renee napier pose with thomas mahon, assistant principal, and oscar cedeno, dean of students, after their talk at cardinal gibbons high school in fort lauderdale.
Eric smallridge, from tallahassee, fl killed two young women. Renee napier, meagans mom, shares a story of loss and. Mother and inmate warn teens about driving under the. As west explained to ccm magazine, the story made me take a look at my own life and ask myself if id be able to do the impossible, just like she did. A drunk driver apologizes to the family of the person he killed renee napier and eric smallridge became unlikely friends after smallridge apologized for killing napiers daughter while driving. The jury did not like his apparent lack of remorse and quickly found him guilty of vehicular homicide. Eric drove drunk and crashed into their car, killing the two 20yearolds instantly. Mother forgives the drunk driver that tragically killed her. Jan 21, 20 forgiveness songmatthew west lyrics video. Eric smallridge, who hit and killed two women while driving drunk in 2002, spoke about life choices.
Nearly a decade ago, eric smallridge was driving drunk in pensacola, fla. Mar 21, 2012 the drunk driver, eric smallridge, is serving an 11year prison sentence for vehicular manslaughter. View eric smallridges profile on linkedin, the worlds largest professional community. I am currently serving a 22year sentence in the florida department of corrections for my role in an accident that claimed the lives of two beautiful, twentyyearold girls, meagan napier and lisa dickson. She and a friend, lisa dickson, were killed on may 11, 2002 by a drunk driver, 24 yearold eric smallridge. After some time, she began to forgive eric smallridge, the driver responsible. A drunk driver apologizes to the family of the person he. A story of pain, redemption and forgiveness in wake of horrific dui. Mother and drunk driver promote national teen driver safety week.
Nov 15, 2016 eric smallridge was the drunk driver behind the wheel of the vehicle that took their lives. Then mom writes a letter to judge that changes everything. Forgiveness emanuel ame church and renee napier stories. Blood tests taken at the scene revealed smallridge had a. The drunk driver, eric smallridge, is serving an 11year prison sentence for vehicular manslaughter. Feb 23, 2012 this is the story of meagan napier and her friend lisa jo dickson, who were killed by drunk driver eric smallridge on may 11, 2002. A drunk driver apologizes to the family of the person he killed cbc. Drinking and driving left eric responsible for the deaths of two young women. Shortly after, renee made it her lifes mission to share meagans story with as many people as possible in hopes of preventing more unnecessary deaths like that of her daughter.
Incredible acts of forgiveness that will inspire you. Eric smallridge had climbed behind the wheel dozens of times after having a drink but on may 11, 2002 his luck ran out. This is moving story about true love and forgiveness. Dont risk lives by drinking and driving speaker tells swan valley. Eric smallridge, convicted of manslaughter for driving drunk and causing a fatal crash, was released from prison 11 years early thanks to an unlikely source the mother of one of his victims. Eric smallwood, drunken driver, who killed two girls, leaving. Mother shares story of daughters death for drunk driving awareness. See the complete profile on linkedin and discover erics. Aug 15, 2018 may 11, 2002, 20yearolds, meagan napier and lisa dixon became victims of a drunk driver. On may 11, 2002, a drunk driver killed my daughter, meagan, and meagans friend, lisa dickson.
In platteville, drunk driver, mother of crash victim share. Personal tragedies emphasize importance of not drinking and. Could you forgive the drunk driver who killed your daughter. The mother of a young woman who was killed by a drunk driver in 2002 is doing her part to prevent another tragedy. On may 11th, 2002, a drunk driver killed renees daughter, meagan, and meagans friend, lisa. Nov 24, 2017 drunk driver hits and kills 2 young girls. Eric smallridge, right, speaks to lisa roa, center, of naples, and her children, emily arroliga, 21, and robert roa, 10 following a talk at barron collier high school on march 5, 2015.
Napier spoke about her daughter, meagan, who was killed in an accident by eric smallridge, who was driving drunk. In 2003 he was sentenced to 22 years in prison on two counts of dui manslaughter for killing both renees daughter meagan and the other young woman in the. Promoting forgiveness, mending hearts and saving lives. Dont risk lives by drinking and driving speaker tells swan. I met joseph bermudez of the miamidade pd at a florida crime prevention dinner in october 2009 and he invited me to come. Eric smallridge, 24, was sentenced to 22 years in prison for dui manslaughter.
After renee napiers daughter was killed by a drunk driver, she did the unthinkable forgave the man responsible. My name is eric smallridge, or i should say, it was. Mother and inmate warn teens about driving under the influence. Dec 19, 2014 on may 11, 2002, meagan, 22, and her friend lisa jo dickson, 22, were killed by a drunk driver, eric smallridge, 24, as they headed home. Sep 21, 2017 a story of pain, redemption and forgiveness in wake of horrific dui crash. Jun 07, 2017 on may 11 2002, 20yearold meagan napier and her friend lisa dickson, also 20, were driving home from the beach when the jeep driven by drunk driver eric smallridge, then 25, struck lisas mazda, sending it ploughing into a tree. Meagan napier and her friend lisa jo dickson who were killed by drunk driver eric smallridge on may 11, 2002. Apr 19, 2012 eric smallridge had climbed behind the wheel dozens of times after having a drink but on may 11, 2002 his luck ran out. Eric smallridge, 28, was convicted on two counts of duimanslaughter and sentenced to 11 years from 22 years in prison, because both families of meagan napier and lisa dickson asked a judge to cut eric smallridge sentence from 22 years to 11 years. Renee got the phone call no mother wants to hear a drunk driver killed her daughter.
Renee napier, mother of drunkdriving accident victim meagan. Oct 18, 2016 mother and drunk driver promote national teen driver safety week the pair are visiting schools in south florida to talk to students about the irreversible consequences of drunk driving. Oct 18, 2016 the mother of a young woman who was killed by a drunk driver in 2002 is doing her part to prevent another tragedy. Renee napier had good reason to hate eric smallridge forever, and no one would blame her. Eric smallridge and renee napier, who now share speaking engagements, did not know one another until smallridge killed napiers daughter. Renee napier, mother of drunkdriving accident victim. An anguished eric smallridge begged for forgiveness in his 2002 court appearance. Aug 19, 2018 i tell the story in my veteran groups of renee napier who lost her 20yearold daughter megan to a drunk driver. Meagans mother, renee napier, appears with smallridge. This is the story of renee napier and eric smallridge, and the forgiveness, grace, and repentance that grew out of drunk driving tragedy in. Eric smallridge was advised by his lawyer to show absolutely no emotion in court. Nov 02, 2017 renee napier and eric smallridge visited houston academy to speak with students and faculty about the dangers of underage drinking, texting and driving, and driving under the influence.
Mar 22, 2020 the 24yearold drunk driver who caused the crash, eric smallridge, was eventually found guilty of dui manslaughter driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and sentenced to 22 years in prison. I know what it is to be that drunk driver and it doesnt go away. Eric smallwood, drunken driver, who killed two girls, leaving prison on the right path rickey stokes viewed. Like all parents, renee napier loves to talk about her children.
Dec 05, 2019 the driver, 27yearold eric smallridge, had been partying with friends and was on his way home when the accident occurred around 2 a. The driver, 27yearold eric smallridge, had been partying with friends and was on his way home when the accident occurred around 2 a. What renee did next stunned the driver and will stun you. Mothers forgiveness gives convict second chance cbs news. The meagan napier foundation has been a part of this summit since 2010. This is the story of meagan napier and her friend lisa jo dickson, who were killed by drunk driver eric smallridge on may 11, 2002. Mom forgives the drunk driver that killed her daughter. Mother of dui victim finds peace with her daughters. On may 11, 2002, a drunk driver by the name of eric smallridge struck napiers 20yearold daughter and her friend, killing. Im still blown away every time i hear the story about how youve come to forgive the guy who killed your daughter, said the driver, eric smallridge.