Convicted drunk driver, mother of victim killed speak to students

Presentation held at Boyd Anderson High School for Teen Driver Safety Week

LAUDERDALE LAKES, Fla. – The mother of a young woman who was killed by a drunk driver in 2002 is doing her part to prevent another tragedy. She, along with the man who was convicted in that drunk-driving wreck, spoke at a Lauderdale Lakes high school Tuesday to encourage safe driving habits among teens.

Meagan Napier, 20, was killed in May 2002, along with her friend Lisa Dickson, 20, when Eric Smallridge slammed into their vehicle while driving drunk.

"When I went to that crash site, I knew what my new mission would be because I don't want any other parent to have to live through what we've lived through," Renee Napier said.

Smallridge was sentenced to 22 years in state prison after he was convicted of DUI manslaughter.

"I've caused so much pain, so much strife by the bad choices I've made," he said.

Napier and Smallridge formed an unlikely friendship since he has been released from prison. Napier said she knew that she wanted others to learn about what happened to her daughter in hopes of preventing future deaths, and she knew having Smallridge there would make a difference.

So Napier lobbied to have him join her and travel across the country to tell their story, including Tuesday's visit to Boyd H. Anderson High School.        

''I am a woman of faith and I desperately relied on my faith to get me through this," Napier said. "It was shaken at that moment in time, but I just knew that my faith tells me I need to forgive if I want to be forgiven. And I knew that it was for me more than it was for him."

Smallridge speaks remorsefully about his actions, saying that he hopes that his story serves as a lesson to others.

"Share the message of not only forgiveness, but that of the dangers and consequences of drinking and driving and the pain and tragedy that it can cause if people make that bad choice," Smallridge said.

Napier and Smallridge's presentation was part of the school's participation in National Teen Driver Safety Week.

The duo has already visited nine schools this week and have held 50 presentations this year. 


About the Author:

Jenise Fernandez joined the Local 10 News team in November 2014. She is thrilled to be back home reporting for the station she grew up watching. Jenise, who is from Miami and graduated from Florida International University, also interned at Local 10 while she was in college.