Twenty-three-year-old Tyler Otto of Neshkoro, Wisconsin has been dedicating his life to sharing his traumatic involvement in a Wisconsin car crash. In a presentation for the Prevent Alcohol and Risk-Related Trauma in Youth (P.A.R.T.Y.) event in downtown Appleton, Otto stressed the importance of safe teenage driving, while sharing his harrowing story.
When Chris Otto was 18, he attended a graduation party for a friend and decided to drive home drunk. Crossing the centerline of State 44 highway outside Pickett, Otto’s car hit another car head-on. Otto was injured and the other driver, an 18-year-old male from Montello, was killed.
Chris Otto went to prison at age 19, and was released two years later. Otto started sharing his story as a community service requirement, as well as to honor the request of the victim’s mother. He has continued his work to influence teens because he believes in the difference that it makes.
Otto’s story had an influence on the 5,000 students from 34 neighboring high schools when he spoke at the eighth annual P.A.R.T.Y. at the P.A.C., which took place at downtown Appleton’s Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. Sponsored by local businesses, the event is meant to stress the devastating repercussions of texting while driving, not wearing a safety belt, and attempting to drive while intoxicated.
The timing of the event hit particularly close to home, as the community of Fond du Lac is still reeling from the loss of the three Cambellsport teenage girls killed in a recent SUV crash. Organizers of the event are eager to get a safe driving message to teens before they are issued their driver’s license, to temper the excitement with a sense of realistic consequences.
If you have been in a Wisconsin car crash involving a teen, contact the Appleton car accident lawyers of Hupy and Abraham at 920-882-8382 (or toll-free at 800-800-5678) to schedule a consultation and get your FREE copy of The Ultimate Guide for Auto Accident Victims and Valuable Information Insurance Companies Don't Want You to Know!