LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) – A Lima resident shared his powerful story at the Allen County Fair to inspire people to never drive while impaired.
Nathan Richard told fairgoers his story about being hit by a drunk driver as the Lima Allen County Safe Community Coalition kicked off the National "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign. On June 29, 2024, Richard was unloading a vehicle when a drunk driver crashed into him, crushing him between two vehicles. The impact broke his femur and both tibias, tore his left ACL and destroyed the ligaments in his right leg, leading to nearly 70 percent of both legs being amputated. Now more than a year into his recovery and healing process, Richard said he has one important message for people to remember.
“What could seem as an inconsequential action can have drastic, long-term effects not just for yourself but for others. In my case, I mean, it was physically debilitating. It's caused a lot of pain and struggle with that. It's been hard on my family, as far as dealing with the stress of it and, you know, trying to help me out. It's been hard on the gentleman that hit me. His life has been drastically affected as well, and it's something that was seemingly, just based off it, 'I’ll be ok and I can do this thing without affecting anybody.' The stark truth is that is not the case,” says Nathan Richard, survivor of a 2024 crash caused by a drunk driver
Lima Municipal Court Judge John Payne also spoke at the event, discussing the legal consequences of drunk driving. The "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign runs through Sept. 1.
