Program set for Winsted Elem Wed., May 6

WINSTED, MN – Three brothers, who were wearing their seatbelts and driving responsibly in 2004, were killed when one young man decided to make a fatal choice near Farmington.

That choice was to drink and drive – and by doing so, he killed all three brothers in one crash.  The lesson that could be learned from this is a hard one that Nathan and Connie Backstrom, who lost their sons, are willing to teach as they bring their powerful message of the dangers and consequences of drinking and driving to the Winsted Elementary gym, Wednesday, May 6 at 7 p.m.

The Backstroms’ three oldest sons, Matthew, Jacob and Justin, were killed in a car crash near Farmington in October 2004 when a drunk driver crashed into their car.

The three boys were returning home from running errands when a drunk driver, who was also speeding and talking on his cell phone, crossed the center line and hit their car. Matthew and Justin died instantly, and Jacob died a few hours later at the hospital.  The Backstroms along with their two remaining sons, Ryan and Charles, tell the story of how their lives were changed forever by one person’s decision to drink and drive.

Since the crash the Backstroms have given presentations at mock crashes, high schools, churches, and special events. They are using this tragedy to educate both parents and young adults about the perils of drinking and driving.
They also want people to be aware that it’s not just dangerous to the person drinking and driving, but also for the innocent people who may be hurt or killed and the family and friends of those victims.
In an interview with WCCO, the Backstroms say sharing their story helps them to heal.

“It is also a part of the grieving process. So, in a sense, all of these kids and all of these people we talked to are our support group,” said Nathan Backstrom.
They hope that by putting names and faces to the victims, people will realize it’s not just statistics, but real people dying in alcohol-related crashes.
More information about the Backstrom brothers can be found on the family website, www.backstrombrothers.com.

This free presentation is sponsored by MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), McLeod County MEADA, and McLeod County Partners in Prevention.
Refreshments will be served after the presentation.
Statistics
The legal limit for driving impaired in Minnesota is 0.08, but motorists who show impaired driving even with a limit below that can be arrested.
According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety website, www.dps.state.mn.us/ots, each year 200 people are killed in alcohol-related crashes, 3,500 are injured, and more than 35,000 are arrested for DWI on Minnesota roads.
More than half a million Minnesotans, one out of every eight with a drivers license record, have a DWI.
The Office of Traffic Safety also makes a list of the deadliest counties in Minnesota, based on the number of alcohol related accidents.
Based on their 2009 Operation NightCAP (night time concentrated alcohol patrol), which targets the state’s 13 deadliest counties, Wright County is number six on the list of deadliest counties in regard to impaired driving.
The figures used to compile this list are based on a three year period from 2005-2007.
During that time Wright County had 24 alcohol-related traffic deaths, 26 alcohol-related serious injuries, and 2,415 DWI arrests.
These deadliest counties make up nearly half of the state’s alcohol-related deaths and serious injuries which occurred during that time period.