11252002 - News Article - Schererville court steps up anti-drunken driving message - ROBERT CANTRELL

Schererville court steps up anti-drunken driving message
NWI Times
Nov 25, 2002
nwitimes.com/news/local/s-ville-court-steps-up-anti-drunken-driving-message/article_4f033d2b-b557-5165-9d40-21d4ce8e9ead.html
SCHERERVILLE -- Town Court Judge Deborah Riga sees drunken driving offenders come through her court on a weekly basis. But when her young neighbor, 20-year-old Marcus Szczepanski, was killed in an alcohol-related accident earlier this month, the impact of drunken driving hit home for Riga more than ever.

As a result of Szczepanski's death, Riga said she plans to heighten her already tough stance against drinking and driving.

"It's shocking," she said. "It's not someone you don't know. It can be your neighbor, your relative, your child or your spouse."

Riga said Szczepanski grew up alongside her own children and was known to be a responsible young adult who was very much against drinking and driving.

"With his friends, he was totally against it," she said. "He would never tolerate it."

Szczepanski was killed in a one-car accident in rural White County near Wolcott on Nov. 2 after his truck rolled about five times at the intersection of U.S. 231 and County Road 850 West, according to the Indiana State Police.

He had apparently come from an event where he had been drinking, Riga said.

Riga plans to request from the Schererville Town Council a proclamation declaring December "Drinking and Driving Prevention Awareness Month" and said she hopes to place a public service announcement on a billboard in town as soon as it can be arranged.

Another program that has stemmed from Szczepanski's death is the placement of anti-drunken driving stickers on local gas pumps. Riga said she has obtained permission from many local gas station owners for this project and the stickers will be appearing shortly.

Riga also has paid tribute to Szczepanski's life on the front of her Crossroads program brochures, placing his name and dates of birth and death on a gold star. Coincidentally, the stars were already on the brochures before his death, and it seems fitting to honor him in this way, as his family always referred to Szczepanski as "their shining star," Riga said.

The Crossroads program, established in 2001, is a monthly curriculum sponsored by the Schererville Town Court aimed to help young, first-time offenders guilty of alcohol, tobacco and drug violations.

The goal of the program, according to Riga, is to prevent drunken driving reoccurrences and to show the participants the consequences of their actions. Aimed at offenders ages 18 to 22, Crossroads meets once a month on a Saturday. Victims and family members of victims killed or injured in alcohol-related accidents share their stories with the offenders in a "victim impact segment" of the program.

Szczepanski's older sister, Alison, who was very close with her brother, plans to speak at the January meeting.

Riga said she admires the Szczepanski family's generosity in sharing their anguish to help others.

"To reach at least one person and instill in them the consequences that can never be reversed helps to give some sense to a horrible tragedy," she said.