As residents in Indiana should be able to enjoy the days leading up to Christmas knowing this time of year offers them special time with friends and family. Sadly at too many holiday gatherings people choose to drink alcoholic beverages and then drive themselves home instead of identifying a designated driver or using ride hailing services or public transportation. This seemingly simple decision puts far too many innocent people in harm's way for no reason.

Such is the case for one teenage girl and her grandparents. The girl, who is 17 years old, was driving a vehicle with her grandfather and grandmother in it when they were suddenly struck by an oncoming vehicle that crossed over into their lane just four days before Christmas. The driver of the wrong-way vehicle was later discovered to have a blood alcohol level of 0.117 percent, more than 0.03 percent higher than the legal limit for intoxication.

The teenage girl was injured in the crash and, even worse, lost both of her grandparents as they died due to their injuries. A passenger in the drunk driver's vehicle was also injured. The resistance of one person to avoid drinking and driving has now left many people grieving instead of celebrating this Christmas season.

After being hit by a reckless and negligent driver, people in Indiana might want to talk with an attorney to see how they might pursue compensation and some form of justice for their losses. 

Source: Indy Star, "Former Parke County sheriff, wife killed in crash," Associated Press and Leigh Hedger, December 22, 2017