On
May 15, 2006, Michael Glynn, a Belvidere teenager, crashed his vehicle
while driving home from a high school graduation party where he had been
drinking alcohol. Two days later he died as a result of his injuries.
Michael was 18 years old.
Michael was more than a statistic – just as every one of South Dakota’s
teens that lose their lives in underage drinking crashes. Michael
competed in rodeos; his last contest was just the weekend before his
death.
The following year, to memorialize Michael’s death and remind others not
to drink and drive, the South Dakota Highway Patrol held a sobriety
checkpoint in Michael’s name in Mellette County. His mother, Joyce
Glynn, spoke out in
support
of the checkpoint, “I appreciate the Department of Public Safety holding
this checkpoint in memory of Michael. I hope everyone who is stopped will
be sober and alcohol free, but if they’re not, I’m glad they are going to
be stopped and not allowed to continue driving in that condition.”
She continued, “I wish Michael would have been stopped last year when he
was driving while intoxicated, even if it meant a fine and going to court.
At least he would be alive.”
After his death, Michael’s family agreed to donate his organs, allowing
eight strangers a chance to continue life in a way the young man couldn’t.
Joyce took up the battle against underage drinking in her community.
She employs her son’s memory to urge teens to never drink and drive.
In Michael’s memory, she promised the next graduating class of Michael’s
high school that she would give every student who went the whole school
year without drinking a $100 reward. 11 of the 22 seniors abstained
from alcohol for the entire year, and Joyce not only gave them each the
promised $100, but also doubled the reward. She plans to
continue the tradition of rewarding White River seniors who don't drink.
Information from
KELO-TV,
information and pictures from the
South Dakota Department of Highway Safety
