The Real Halloween ScareÂ
It happened to us this Halloweekend. In the early hours of October 31st, 5 people were injured by a drunk driver. It happened to us. It happened here. These things often happen because we assume it would never, could never, and should never happen to us. Let’s stop assuming that.
Friday, October 31st, around 3 am, Antonia G. Garcia Rios hit 5 innocent people with a Ford F150 in front of the Cane’s on MLK Blvd, right across the street from UT Austin campus. Let’s just think about how many people go to Cane’s after a long night of fun. How many more people could be impacted by ill-minded decisions like this? These 5 people, although not yet confirmed by the media, are likely college students. It is also likely that the drunk driver was also a college student. The accident was preventable, just like all other drunk driving incidents. Halloweekend should be a fun and SAFE TIME, but it’s our job as participants in partying shenanigans to keep it SAFE.Â
Getting behind the wheel when you are not completely aware of your surroundings is not only a danger to those around you but also to your reputation as an aspiring professional. There are civil, sometimes criminal, and also academic repercussions. Consequences range from a written warning to expulsion. Applying to graduate schools and jobs is also compromised because of the digital age we live in now. Simply googling the name of those charged with a DUI or DWI brings up everything.
Ways to stay safe when you’re less than sober
UT Austin offers several late-night safety resources to help students get home safely and prevent drunk driving.
- Sure Walk provides free, safe walks home from campus or nearby areas with trained student volunteers.
- UT Night Rides, in partnership with Lyft, offers free or discounted rides from campus to students’ homes during late-night hours.
- West Campus Ambassadors patrol the area around West Campus, offering safety escorts, first aid, and assistance to students who may need help getting home. Together, these programs give Longhorns safe, reliable alternatives to drunk driving or walking alone at night.
Let’s all stay safe and protect ourselves and others from the real scary stuff. We all have so much to look forward to as students; let’s keep those futures clean and bright while still having fun responsibly.