Thank you, Jessica Robinson and folks, for doing what you can to transform this tragic experience into one which prevents harm to others, and helps to heal our communities...
blessings to you all.
---------------------------
Jessica's Story
The day that changed lives…
Monday, September 1st, 2008 was my first day of Radiography School. That summer I was accepted along with only 29 other students into Pima Medical Institutes Radiography program. The first week of the program was your typical introductory week of getting settled in and getting to know each other. That Friday, September 5th, the last day of introductory week we had a potluck and each student was asked to present a poster of our goals and where we wanted our lives to be in 5 years.
Very early that Friday morning, before heading to school, I went to the grocery store to purchase a chocolate cake for the potluck. At the potluck there was so much food and so many colorful posters scattered around the classroom. My poster had my goals of graduating from Radiology school, buying a house, meeting Mr. Right and getting married, having children and traveling. I had no idea that in less than 24 hours my life would be altered forever…
When the potluck ended, my cake was unopened so I decided I would take it and say hello to the ladies at the office I used to work in which was just down the street. I only stayed for a few minutes to say hello and dropped off the cake.
I then went to work at my regular job. On Fridays I only worked until 6:00pm. After work I headed home to get changed and freshen up, I was going to a concert with friends that night! I arrived at the concert venue and met with my friends. The concert was sold out, and I was the only one with a ticket but did not want to go alone, I sold my ticket and we decided to go out for Sushi.
We were finally seated for dinner around 8:30, we had a drink while waiting for a table at the restaurant, and I had a drink with dinner. We sat and chatted for a couple of hours, and at around 10:30 a co-worker called and wanted us to meet at a different restaurant. There was a guy who was with us who does not drink so he drove us to our next meeting place. Once at the other establishment, a friend ordered me a beer. I took one drink of it but decided I would not drink it because I knew I would be driving later that evening.
Around 1:00am our friend drove me back to my vehicle at the Sushi restaurant. I got in my car and headed home. I had been awake for almost 18 hours and was definitely feeling it. Only minutes from reaching home my eyes started to get heavy and for an instant I closed them, taking my eyes off of the road. When I opened them I was approaching a truck right in front of me, I tried to steer around it but it was too late. Glass breaking, tires screeching, my voice screaming, then silence…
Is this a bad dream? It wasn’t... I was there, hanging upside down in my seat, the car had rolled. This was not a dream, this was real, I was alive but someone else was not.
All of the details are not important, but the message of it all is. I went out that evening and I drank and I got behind the wheel of my car and drove. Because of my actions, my careless decision to drink and drive, it cost someone else their life. Not only did it cost someone their life, it robbed someone’s family and friends of their loved one.
We are not invincible; we are not made of steel. If you think you are, you are mistaken. If you think you can drink and drive, don’t ever think that you can or that it is okay. If you DO drink and drive, YOU MIGHT AS WELL SIGN YOUR OWN DEATH CERTIFICATE OR PLEA AGREEMENT TO GO TO PRISON!
I did not physically die on September 6, 2008 but I felt like I did. Due to my actions I faced severe repercussions, not only criminally, but even worse I faced the repercussions emotionally. The mental anguish alone was and always will be a huge obstacle.
Here I am 2 ½ years later, writing this from my prison cell, an 8 by 12 room that I will spend the next 5.8 years in. I was charged with vehicular manslaughter - a class 2 Felony - to which I received a 7 year prison sentence. Not only did I receive a 7 year sentence, but I sentenced myself to a lifetime of grief.
I am not asking you, I am begging you; please do not make the same mistake I made. Please spread the message to everyone you know. DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE. EVER.
If everyone will help me to spread this message, then what I am in here for will not go for waste.
Please ask yourself the next time you want to order a drink and you are the driver, is it really worth it?
Mission
Our mission is to make people aware of the dangers and consequences of drinking and driving and to help other families who have loved ones that are incarcerated or facing incarceration.
The day that changed lives…
Monday, September 1st, 2008 was my first day of Radiography School. That summer I was accepted along with only 29 other students into Pima Medical Institutes Radiography program. The first week of the program was your typical introductory week of getting settled in and getting to know each other. That Friday, September 5th, the last day of introductory week we had a potluck and each student was asked to present a poster of our goals and where we wanted our lives to be in 5 years.
Very early that Friday morning, before heading to school, I went to the grocery store to purchase a chocolate cake for the potluck. At the potluck there was so much food and so many colorful posters scattered around the classroom. My poster had my goals of graduating from Radiology school, buying a house, meeting Mr. Right and getting married, having children and traveling. I had no idea that in less than 24 hours my life would be altered forever…
When the potluck ended, my cake was unopened so I decided I would take it and say hello to the ladies at the office I used to work in which was just down the street. I only stayed for a few minutes to say hello and dropped off the cake.
I then went to work at my regular job. On Fridays I only worked until 6:00pm. After work I headed home to get changed and freshen up, I was going to a concert with friends that night! I arrived at the concert venue and met with my friends. The concert was sold out, and I was the only one with a ticket but did not want to go alone, I sold my ticket and we decided to go out for Sushi.
We were finally seated for dinner around 8:30, we had a drink while waiting for a table at the restaurant, and I had a drink with dinner. We sat and chatted for a couple of hours, and at around 10:30 a co-worker called and wanted us to meet at a different restaurant. There was a guy who was with us who does not drink so he drove us to our next meeting place. Once at the other establishment, a friend ordered me a beer. I took one drink of it but decided I would not drink it because I knew I would be driving later that evening.
Around 1:00am our friend drove me back to my vehicle at the Sushi restaurant. I got in my car and headed home. I had been awake for almost 18 hours and was definitely feeling it. Only minutes from reaching home my eyes started to get heavy and for an instant I closed them, taking my eyes off of the road. When I opened them I was approaching a truck right in front of me, I tried to steer around it but it was too late. Glass breaking, tires screeching, my voice screaming, then silence…
Is this a bad dream? It wasn’t... I was there, hanging upside down in my seat, the car had rolled. This was not a dream, this was real, I was alive but someone else was not.
All of the details are not important, but the message of it all is. I went out that evening and I drank and I got behind the wheel of my car and drove. Because of my actions, my careless decision to drink and drive, it cost someone else their life. Not only did it cost someone their life, it robbed someone’s family and friends of their loved one.
We are not invincible; we are not made of steel. If you think you are, you are mistaken. If you think you can drink and drive, don’t ever think that you can or that it is okay. If you DO drink and drive, YOU MIGHT AS WELL SIGN YOUR OWN DEATH CERTIFICATE OR PLEA AGREEMENT TO GO TO PRISON!
I did not physically die on September 6, 2008 but I felt like I did. Due to my actions I faced severe repercussions, not only criminally, but even worse I faced the repercussions emotionally. The mental anguish alone was and always will be a huge obstacle.
Here I am 2 ½ years later, writing this from my prison cell, an 8 by 12 room that I will spend the next 5.8 years in. I was charged with vehicular manslaughter - a class 2 Felony - to which I received a 7 year prison sentence. Not only did I receive a 7 year sentence, but I sentenced myself to a lifetime of grief.
I am not asking you, I am begging you; please do not make the same mistake I made. Please spread the message to everyone you know. DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE. EVER.
If everyone will help me to spread this message, then what I am in here for will not go for waste.
Please ask yourself the next time you want to order a drink and you are the driver, is it really worth it?
Mission
Our mission is to make people aware of the dangers and consequences of drinking and driving and to help other families who have loved ones that are incarcerated or facing incarceration.
Write to Jessica at:
Jessica L Robinson
ADC # 256178
Unit Lumley 24-D-164
ASPC Perryville
PO Box 3300
Goodyear, AZ 85395
For Questions, comments or help, email us at:
info@jessicasoperationorange.com
Want a Jessica's Operation Orange Bracelet?
Make a donation and we will mail you one! :)
Send your donation to:
Jessica's Operation Orange
PO Box 2103
Higley, AZ 85236
Jessica L Robinson
ADC # 256178
Unit Lumley 24-D-164
ASPC Perryville
PO Box 3300
Goodyear, AZ 85395
For Questions, comments or help, email us at:
info@jessicasoperationorange.com
Want a Jessica's Operation Orange Bracelet?
Make a donation and we will mail you one! :)
Send your donation to:
Jessica's Operation Orange
PO Box 2103
Higley, AZ 85236
3 comments:
Jeanne is a force of nature and makes a powerful difference in the lives of many. We are very grateful she joined Gina's Team. She understands and has a big vision.
This doesn't make any sense... According to her account, she had TWO drinks and a sip of a third over the course of nearly 5 hours.
How exactly was this tragedy even remotely related to alcohol consumption? After 5 hours, her blood alcohol concentration should have been very close if not equal to 0.0%
Something quite simply doesn't add up here...
To Anonymous:
She also fled the scene (see link below). BUT >> Important to focus on her sincere remorse, continued efforts & willingness to tell people that even in small amounts, (when they think they are "pacing") - people shouldn't drink (at all) and drive, esp. when exhausted.
Also, her successful efforts to put better books in AZ prisons has really been amazing.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/09/10/20080910abrk-3fatalcollisions.html
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