WHAT:
Juniors and seniors at Pittsburgh Allderdice High School will be given a dose of reality Wednesday when it comes to the dangers of distracted driving. In observation of Distracted Driving Awareness Month this April, Paralympian Stephani Victor, the spokesperson for the Chaffin Luhana Foundation, and foundation founder Eric Chaffin will bring their compelling presentation on the dangers of distracted driving to over 700 students. An internationally renowned public speaker and four time gold winning Olympic skiier, Victor lost her legs due to a distracted driver 20 years ago.
During the first half of 2015 an estimated 16,225 people in the US died in crashes due to distracted driving – an increase of almost 10% from the first half of 2014. And even more troubling, according to statistics released by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, Allegheny County holds the state record for the highest number of distracted driving citations.
After the presentation, students will be taking the pledge not to be a distracted driver and asked to create a compelling essay on distracted driving’s danger for the chance to be awarded a
$2500 educational scholarship.
WHEN:
Wednesday, April 13th at 11:00am
WHERE:
Pittsburgh Allderdice High School, 2409 Shady Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Media can park on Nicholson Street Entrance and enter side auditorium door
WHO:
More than 700 juniors and seniors of Taylor Allderdice High School Paralympian Athlete Stephani Victor
Chaffin Luhana Foundation Founder Eric Chaffin Taylor Allderdice Principal Melissa Friez
PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES:
Hundreds of students will sign a pledge to not be a distracted driver. Chaffin and Victor will pass out information on a significant scholarship to be awarded on submission of a creative essay on why not to be a distracted driver.
About Stephani Victor
At age 26, Stephani suffered horrific injuries in a car accident, robbing her of both legs. She became a Paralympic downhill skier, winning five medals in three Paralympic Winter Games, including the first-ever Gold in Super Combined and two Silvers in Vancouver in 2010. She also participated in the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games. www.stephanivictor.com
About Eric Chaffin
A founding partner of the Chaffin Luhana law firm, Eric Chaffin is a litigator admitted to practice in New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. He exclusively represents personal injury victims, consumers, whistleblowers and shareholders in state and federal trial courts and appellate courts across the country. He is a former federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New York and prosecuted white collar cases including the high-profile Computer Associates International and Symbol Technologists accounting and securities fraud prosecutions (over $1.2 billion and $200 million, respectively).