Every year, SADD, Students Against Destructive Decisions, adopts a victim of drunk driving. What that means is, SADD gets assigned one, or sometimes even a couple of people who have been either killed or severely damaged by drunk driving crashes physically. This system helps show families that someone is thinking of them. This year, we were introduced to a woman named Sara Matulewicz.

A few weeks ago, SADD members were able to sit down and listen to her parents talk about her story firsthand.

Sara was working for Calvin Klein in NY but grew up in Massachusetts. She was engaged and her wedding was only a few weeks away. She went out for a run and was hit by a drunk driver. The driver was so drunk, he didn’t even know he hit a person. When it happened, he asked, “Is it alive?” Sara’s father, Mr. Matulewicz was driving by and recognized his daughter. He was there at the side of the road when she died.

It was heartbreaking for them, her sister and her fiancé. They are a large close family. The parents try hard to stay positive and just honor her memory and not stay angry. They said the man who killed Sara showed no remorse an only served about 7 years.

SADD has formed a partnership with her family and is planning events in her honor in order to reach out and keep her memory alive.

Sara’s parents and SADD members will both be attending and speaking to juniors and seniors at this year’s pre-prom assembly.

By Jessica Martineau