The Memorial Day weekend is almost here, and a Flagler County man is sharing his personal story of loss with the hope of encouraging others not to drink and drive.
- Flagler County deputies urging people: Don't drink and drive
- Increased patrols over Memorial Day weekend in Flagler
- Marine units will also be patrolling Intracoastal Waterway
Throughout the streets of Flagler County, motorists will see digital signs with the warning so often repeated: "Don't drink and drive. Choose your ride."
Brian Genk echoes the message.
"I have a few kids at home, and the thoughts of another driver having an impact on my kids' lives — that's what scares me," Genk said.
Genk was 6 years old when he lost his father — the person he calls his hero — who was killed by a drunk driver in Melbourne. Genk's father was on the way home from work when he was hit by a driver on State Road A1A in Brevard County about 28 years ago.
"I didn't have a father figure for a long time as a kid," he said. "Uncles opened up to me. I didn't grow up with someone that taught me how to catch a ball."
The death of Genk's father changed his life forever, and he's not alone.
Statistics provided by the Flagler County Sheriff's Office shows alcohol-related crashes increased by more than 8 percent from 2014 to 2015.
DUI arrests also climbed, going from 203 in 2015 to 215 in 2016 — including three DUI manslaughter cases last year.
Genk said everyone's lives — from first responders to victim family members to the drunk drivers — change after tragedies.
"You can change so many paths and it's awful," he said. "It's absolutely awful."
The sheriff's office is currently moving around a vehicle that’s half taxi cab, half patrol car. The message, the agency said, is to remind people who are drinking that they can grab a taxi (or another ride home) or ride in a patrol car.
The message is to make sure people don't drink and drive during the holiday weekend — or any other day or night.
"That's a killer message, and I hope people really see that and it strikes home," Genk said.