HELPING DRIVE HOME A MESSAGE

While returning from lunch Tuesday afternoon I spotted Vaughn’s Auto towing a crashed pick up truck onto the campus of Lorain County Community College. My curiosity got the best of me so I went to find out what was going on.

The smashed up truck was being placed in the courtyard on campus for the 6th annual “Zero-Proof Mix Off”. The Lorain County Safe Community Coalition, Lorain County Community College and the Ohio State Highway Patrol sponsor the event. The event looks for alcohol free drink recipes to help celebrate the holidays.

Dave Vaughn said that he and his father have been involved in the event since the beginning. “Someone from the college contacted us six years ago when they thought of this idea and asked if we would be interested in helping, we said yes right away.” Vaughn said that in his years in the towing business he has seen far too many alcohol-related crashes and wishes people would start making better decisions before getting behind the wheel. “I have seen both the alcohol related and the just plain stupid drivers who aren’t paying attention out there. I was involved in one recently where a driver on the highway who wasn’t paying attention struck my truck, it’s sobering to think that in an instant everything could be over. I just don’t understand with all the options people have, taxi’s, friends or family, yet they still think it’s ok to drive drunk.”

Vaughn said that years ago his father, Dave Vaughn Sr., ran radio spots telling people that they would provide free rides to anyone who felt they were unable to drive. They stopped running the ad because they didn’t receive one call.

Individuals, local agencies, businesses and clubs were invited to participate in creating the best Zero-Proof holiday drink. The Zero-Proof Mix Off will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Thursday December 6th in the College Center Mall at LCCC. In case of inclement weather the event will be moved to Friday December 7th, same times and same location.

Organizers invite you to grab your family and friends to attend the event and enjoy the drinks, food, music, dancing and great door prizes.

For more information on the event you can call the Lorain County General Health District at 440.322.6367 or 440.244.3418.

To see more photos: CLICK HERE