By Alvaro Ayala

EDINBURG, TEXAS – MARCH 13, 2025 – The UTRGV University Police Department held a special panel prior to Spring Break addressing the dangers of driving while intoxicated.

Students and law enforcement officials who attended on Wednesday, March 12, heard a moving testimonial from special guest Sean Carter, who in 2005 survived a crash when he was a passenger in a vehicle with a friend who was driving drunk. Guests accompanying Carter on the panel were Hidalgo County District Attorney Toribio “Terry” Palacios and Mothers Against Drunk Driving Representative (MADD) Maura Torres.

Part of the police department’s efforts to combat drunk driving was a program called “No Refusal,” often implemented across Texas during holidays or periods with high DWI risk, like Spring Break. The state initiative allows law enforcement to obtain expedited warrants for blood tests if a driver refuses a Breathalyzer and ensures accountability for drivers who are under the influence of alcohol. 

UTRGV PD Assistant Chief Esmeralda Guerra said the importance of hosting awareness events like that one is to have students think twice about driving while under the influence. 

“We want to educate our students to be responsible before they decide to get behind the wheel,” she said. “Someone has to step up and be a designated driver, or plan ahead for a rideshare service.”  

OVERCOMING TRAGEDY  

Carter, now 41, has been living with a traumatic brain injury since he was 22 and a college student in Wichita Falls, Texas. He was riding in the passenger seat of a car driven by a drunk driver when the accident happened.

It was 39 days before Carter woke up from his coma. And it took almost 10 years after that before he could walk again.

Today, he uses an iPad to communicate and a walker to get around. The driver, who was a friend, survived the accident. They are no longer in touch.

During his presentation at the UTRGV panel discussion, via his iPad, Carter urged students to make responsible decisions when getting behind the wheel or into a vehicle. 

“My mother always said, ‘Don’t drink and drive.’ But it took me years to understand what she meant, after I suffered the consequences,’ Carter said. “Listen to your mothers when they tell you not to drive drunk.” 

CONSEQUENCES

Palacios, the Hidalgo County district attorney, is responsible for prosecuting drunk driving-related incidents. He presented county statistics related to drunk driving, and said students have to plan ahead and make responsible choices this Spring Break. 

“This nonsense of losing loved ones due to drunk driving needs to stop,” he said.  

He also discussed the consequences of refusing to take a Breathalyzer test, and explained that authorities will indeed take serious action for anyone suspected of driving while intoxicated. 

In Texas, a person suspected of driving under the influence has the legal right to refuse a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) test, such as a blowing into a Breathalyzer, but the consequences can be severe. Refusal can result in a non-criminal (civil) offense that can result in a fine, and an automatic driver’s license suspension.

An officer may enforce the “No Refusal” protocol and obtain an electronic search warrant if there is enough visible evidence of impairment by a suspected drunk driver.

“We’re not asking you guys not to have fun this spring break, but we are asking you to plan ahead,” he said. 

PROTECTING THE FUTURE  

Ian Alfaro, a sophomore majoring in criminal justice, attended the event. He went in with an open mind, he said, and left appalled at how your life can take a tragic turn so quickly.  

“Coming here makes me more cautious. Hearing how your life can change after one night is crazy,” he said. “We come to college to set goals and chase our dream jobs. We have to be careful with our decisions, especially when getting behind the wheel, because everything can be lost within seconds.”  

UTRGV University Police Sgt. Fellippe Muñoz, of the Patrol Division, said he believes this prevention event and others like it are beneficial in both the short and long term.

“This panel helped educate people about the risks associated with alcohol consumption, and motivated people to make more informed choices,” he said. “If it helps avoid even one alcohol-related incident, like DUI or DWI, then that’s a tragedy avoided.”

For more information about Carter, visit: whenseanspeaks.com 

– Story edited Marci Caltabiano-Ponce.