Mother shares loss caused by DUI

PENSACOLA, Florida (WALA) - It's prom season. A time when drinking and driving is statistically high. A mother who lost her daughter eight years ago and the man behind the wheel at the time joined together to speak to local students in Santa Rosa County, Florida.

May 11, 2002, Lisa Dickson and Meghan Napier were killed by drunk driver, Eric Smallridge.

"It all comes back to my decision to leave the bar intoxicated and get behind the wheel. I ended up crashing in back of Lisa's Mazda 626 and in turn, sending it into a tree and killing them both," said Smallridge.

Smallridge is now serving an 11-year sentence in a Bay County prison.

"One of those times your whole life flashes before your eyes," Smallridge said.

Life also stopped for Napier's mom, Renee.

"I can't even describe to you that feeling, that moment. I screamed out three times and I asked her three times if she was kidding," said Napier.

Napier buried Meghan eight years ago. Despite the pain, now Napier and Smallridge are like family.

They've teamed up to send a message to students in the area. They visited Pace and Central High Schools Thursday and told their story.

"I have grown to love him, I care for him," said Napier.

This is the fourth school they've visited this year. They hope by telling their story, not one student will make the same mistake Smallridge did.

"This is to save lives, bring this message to young people, old people, who ever will listen to it," said Napier.

Their goal is that no student will have to stand before a judge and no mother will have to say goodbye to a child because of a decision to drink and drive.

Due to the forgiveness of the families involved, Smallridges' sentence was cut in half. He's set to be released September 2012.