BAKERSFIELD, CA - Despite tougher laws, decades of public education programs and millions of dollars in federal grants for special enforcement and ramped up prosecution -- Kern County's epidemic of drunken driving is getting worse.
In fact, prosecutors said impaired driving has reached an all time high in Kern and poses a very real and immediate threat to the lives of you and your family.
The District Attorney's Office says the feeling of safety on local roads is slowly evaporating.
Prosecutors say in order for the number of DUI cases with injury or death to start going down, people need to step up and realize drinking and driving can change lives forever.
"I'm 20 years old and I'm currently doing a four-year prison sentence in Kern County Jail, said Kurt Evans, convicted of DUI Vehicular Manslaughter.
In his orange jumpsuit, Evans described the night he barely survived.
"I thought it was going to be a normal night hanging out with friends, go to work the next morning. I woke up about a week later in the hospital and don't remember anything," said Evans.
Evans had been drinking during a camping trip when he got behind the wheel to get more firewood.
But that evening, he didn't get far.
"Made it about 40 yards from the campfire and I lost control and started rolling down a mountain. I rolled about 150 to 200 feet," said Evans.
The crash in Bodfish killed his friend and passenger 18-year-old Kevin Gutierrez.
"Sleepless nights, endless shame and regrets for a lifetime of one simple choice that could be completely prevented," Evans continued.
People like Carla Pearson have to pay the price.
"I will never, ever get over the pain that it has caused myself and also my family. It's just something you don't get over," said Pearson.
She says the loss of her son is still fresh.
Adam Pierce was killed in 2002, when he got into the car of a repeat drunken driver.
Pierce was a 23-year-old Motocross superstar.
"That day at the memorial, it was a nice day if you can say that -- with all the people that showed up and supported the family and all the love that was given. But, you're not supposed to bury your children, they're supposed to bury you," said Pearson.
Twelve years after her son's death, Pearson is an advocate with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, helping victims' families go through the legal process.
"I advocate for the rights of the people all the time, everyday I'm down there. It's long and it's hard but we seem to manage," Pearson said.
A person she has helped tremendously is Shelley Hatcher.
Hatcher's son, 22-year-old Josh Stancliff, a Sheriff's Detention Deputy, was killed in 2005 by a drunk driver in a fiery crash on Rosedale Highway.
"The public just doesn't, they don't understand I guess the consequences that drinking and driving has until it happens to them -- and the thing is, what happened to my son can happen to anyone's son," said Hatcher.
Her son was at a stop light when he was rear ended by Ryan Edwards.
Stancliff and his passenger, 23-year-old Corey Wahl, died at the scene.
"Even if Josh wasn't there in front of Ryan, somebody was going to die that night because Ryan was drinking like a blood alcohol level of 0.23 to 0.257 -- they said in one report," Hatcher said.
Deputy District Attorney Jim Simson says since 2000, DUI's with injury have dramatically increased.
He says the numbers for this year might be record-breaking.
"Based on what I've seen so far in this year, there's no indication whatsoever that the trend we're on is changing," said Simson.
"When they take that roadway, it's a total disregard for human life. They don't care, they're on a mission, they want to get home and they don't even seem to care about themselves getting home safely," said Pearson.
The latest state DUI Management Report released last year, shows in 2011, 4,633 DUI arrests were made county-wide.
And, when you break it down into age categories -- here's what it looks like.
Under the age of 18 -- 31 people were arrested.
Age 18-20 -- 389
Age 21 to 30 -- 2,020
Age 31 to 40 -- 991
Age 41 to 50 -- 707
Age 51 to 60 -- 384
Age 61 to 70 -- 93
And age 71 and above -- 18.
"When you hear stats that one in three people are around you while you're physically driving a car and may be under the influence of alcohol or drugs or both -- our citizens should fear that. We have a big problem here," said Pearson.
A problem Simson says is out of control.
"I think if I were to tell someone that you're going to go out tonight and you're going to die by a criminal act -- the chances are far more likely it's going to be as a result of a DUI driver than anything else we experience here."
Simpson says education is everywhere about drunken driving.
He says society needs to change how it looks at DUI's.
"The crime doesn't have the stigma that it deserves. Individuals are still willing to tolerate an intoxicated person walk out of the door with the keys in their hand. I think for there to be change, that stigma has got to be established."
Pearson agrees and hopes with change, nobody has to experience the heartbreak she has to.
"You receive a phone call, you're rushed to a hospital, your loved one is on life support, you watch them take their last breath and you didn't even say goodbye or that you're proud of them. It's over, it's done." said Pearson.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports a driver will be under the influence 87 times before they are caught.
It also says someone is killed in a DUI crash every 51 minutes.
Carla Pearson says if you know you will be drinking, find a designated driver beforehand or arrange a taxi.
The BPD wants to remind everyone, if you see a drunk driver, call 911 immediately.
In fact, prosecutors said impaired driving has reached an all time high in Kern and poses a very real and immediate threat to the lives of you and your family.
The District Attorney's Office says the feeling of safety on local roads is slowly evaporating.
Prosecutors say in order for the number of DUI cases with injury or death to start going down, people need to step up and realize drinking and driving can change lives forever.
"I'm 20 years old and I'm currently doing a four-year prison sentence in Kern County Jail, said Kurt Evans, convicted of DUI Vehicular Manslaughter.
In his orange jumpsuit, Evans described the night he barely survived.
"I thought it was going to be a normal night hanging out with friends, go to work the next morning. I woke up about a week later in the hospital and don't remember anything," said Evans.
Evans had been drinking during a camping trip when he got behind the wheel to get more firewood.
But that evening, he didn't get far.
"Made it about 40 yards from the campfire and I lost control and started rolling down a mountain. I rolled about 150 to 200 feet," said Evans.
The crash in Bodfish killed his friend and passenger 18-year-old Kevin Gutierrez.
"Sleepless nights, endless shame and regrets for a lifetime of one simple choice that could be completely prevented," Evans continued.
People like Carla Pearson have to pay the price.
"I will never, ever get over the pain that it has caused myself and also my family. It's just something you don't get over," said Pearson.
She says the loss of her son is still fresh.
Adam Pierce was killed in 2002, when he got into the car of a repeat drunken driver.
Pierce was a 23-year-old Motocross superstar.
"That day at the memorial, it was a nice day if you can say that -- with all the people that showed up and supported the family and all the love that was given. But, you're not supposed to bury your children, they're supposed to bury you," said Pearson.
Twelve years after her son's death, Pearson is an advocate with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, helping victims' families go through the legal process.
"I advocate for the rights of the people all the time, everyday I'm down there. It's long and it's hard but we seem to manage," Pearson said.
A person she has helped tremendously is Shelley Hatcher.
Hatcher's son, 22-year-old Josh Stancliff, a Sheriff's Detention Deputy, was killed in 2005 by a drunk driver in a fiery crash on Rosedale Highway.
"The public just doesn't, they don't understand I guess the consequences that drinking and driving has until it happens to them -- and the thing is, what happened to my son can happen to anyone's son," said Hatcher.
Her son was at a stop light when he was rear ended by Ryan Edwards.
Stancliff and his passenger, 23-year-old Corey Wahl, died at the scene.
"Even if Josh wasn't there in front of Ryan, somebody was going to die that night because Ryan was drinking like a blood alcohol level of 0.23 to 0.257 -- they said in one report," Hatcher said.
Deputy District Attorney Jim Simson says since 2000, DUI's with injury have dramatically increased.
He says the numbers for this year might be record-breaking.
"Based on what I've seen so far in this year, there's no indication whatsoever that the trend we're on is changing," said Simson.
"When they take that roadway, it's a total disregard for human life. They don't care, they're on a mission, they want to get home and they don't even seem to care about themselves getting home safely," said Pearson.
The latest state DUI Management Report released last year, shows in 2011, 4,633 DUI arrests were made county-wide.
And, when you break it down into age categories -- here's what it looks like.
Under the age of 18 -- 31 people were arrested.
Age 18-20 -- 389
Age 21 to 30 -- 2,020
Age 31 to 40 -- 991
Age 41 to 50 -- 707
Age 51 to 60 -- 384
Age 61 to 70 -- 93
And age 71 and above -- 18.
"When you hear stats that one in three people are around you while you're physically driving a car and may be under the influence of alcohol or drugs or both -- our citizens should fear that. We have a big problem here," said Pearson.
A problem Simson says is out of control.
"I think if I were to tell someone that you're going to go out tonight and you're going to die by a criminal act -- the chances are far more likely it's going to be as a result of a DUI driver than anything else we experience here."
Simpson says education is everywhere about drunken driving.
He says society needs to change how it looks at DUI's.
"The crime doesn't have the stigma that it deserves. Individuals are still willing to tolerate an intoxicated person walk out of the door with the keys in their hand. I think for there to be change, that stigma has got to be established."
Pearson agrees and hopes with change, nobody has to experience the heartbreak she has to.
"You receive a phone call, you're rushed to a hospital, your loved one is on life support, you watch them take their last breath and you didn't even say goodbye or that you're proud of them. It's over, it's done." said Pearson.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports a driver will be under the influence 87 times before they are caught.
It also says someone is killed in a DUI crash every 51 minutes.
Carla Pearson says if you know you will be drinking, find a designated driver beforehand or arrange a taxi.
The BPD wants to remind everyone, if you see a drunk driver, call 911 immediately.