Wheeling Park High School Receives Message Firsthand -
Booze and Cruise, You’ll Lose

March 2, 2006

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The Booze and Cruise, You’ll Lose program continued their tour of the Ohio Valley with a stop at Wheeling Park High School. Nearly 100 students gathered in the school’s theatre and received valuable advice from Wheeling Nailers Bo Cheesman, Tim Verbeek, and Luis Tremblay, attorney Christopher Turak from the personal injury law firm of Gold, Khourey and Turak, and Cpl. Jason Laing of the West Virginia State Police.

Turak, also the program’s coordinator, asked the students various questions concerning the legal, personal, and financial consequences of drinking and driving. Those who participated in the discussion were awarded Booze and Cruise, You’ll Lose t-shirts. Gary Sharp, “Voice of the Nailers,” and Barbara Anderson from WTOV TV 9 participated in helping select volunteers.

Turak pointed out, “Many young adults, and older adults for that matter, don’t realize that you can be arrested for DUI without actually consuming an alcoholic beverage.” He stated that, “Besides the obvious use of drugs such as marijuana, anyone who takes a prescription medication, then decides to drive, runs the risk of being arrested for driving under the influence.” “For someone under the age of 21, it doesn’t take much, the level is 0.02.” Turak continued, “Why anyone would increase the risk by drinking then trying to drive is beyond me.”

Cpl. Jason Laing, a 12-year veteran of the West Virginia State Police explained that most DUI arrests don’t start out as DUI arrests, but as minor traffic violations. “Many times I’ll pull someone over because they have a tail light out, then notice the smell of alcohol and that’s when my attention shifts to a possible DUI”, said Cpl. Laing. He showed the audience first-hand what an actual DUI stop entails. With the use of “Drunk Goggles”, Wheeling Park junior, Kit Bandi simulated 0.10 intoxication and was taken through a number of field sobriety tests. Bandi failed all tests miserably, and was handcuffed and read her rights by Cpl. Laing. She was given a Booze and Cruise, You’ll Lose t-shirt for her participation.

Wheeling Nailers Bo Cheesman, Tim Verbeek and Luis Tremblay shared stories about how they have been effected by those who have decided to drive under the influence. Cheesman explained that he has had to make two trips home this season to attend funerals of friends who were killed because of drinking and driving. “One of my friends was driving drunk and crashed into a tree and died,” said Cheesman. “My other friend didn’t have a drink, but was killed when a drunk driver hit him head-on.”

Verbeek offered a story that most high schoolers can identify with. “When I heard about this program, I wanted to come and share my story with you...in high school, my sister tried to prevent one of her friends from driving drunk,” said Verbeek. “The person got extremely upset and started yelling at her. My sister got mad and threw the keys at her friend. Later that night my sister’s friend died in a crash.”

Tremblay’s message was more somber. “My friend was driving drunk, missed a red light, and was pulled over by the police,” said Tremblay. “He was a good hockey player, was drafted by Philadelphia, but now he cannot live his dream because he is not allowed to cross the border into the U.S. with a DUI on his record.” Tremblay continued, “So, you see, not every story ends with a death like the stories you just heard. You don’t have to be killed in a drunk driving crash in order for it to ruin your life.”

At the conclusion of the program, Turak commended the students for their efforts on the Booze Buster Quiz and awarded student, Ryan Clausell a prize package for his efforts on the quiz. The prizes included tickets to a Nailers game, a t-shirt, and a game used hockey stick autographed by Tremblay, Cheesman, and Verbeek.