Drunk driving victim from Chesterfield to give speeches at colleges, prisons

CHESTERFIELD, VA (WWBT) - A 20-year-old woman who became partially wheelchair bound after being struck by a drunk driver four years ago is now giving speeches about her experience to high schools, colleges and even to prison inmates.

Kristen Mallory was 16 years old when she and her mother were struck while driving home from a family members makeup rehearsal for their wedding. The crash happened on Hull Street at Spring Run Road on June 9, 2013.

"When I woke up, I was trapped in the car I couldn't feel or see my legs. They were just squished up against the dashboard," Mallory said.

It took the fire department 30 minutes just to get Mallory out of the smashed up car.

"I had two broken femurs, my left leg, the main artery was broken and there was an emergency stent placed," Mallory said. "I broke both hands, my collar bone and got a concussion and traumatic brain injury."

The driver who hit the Mallory's was charged and spent three years in prison.

Four years later, Kristen and her mom are still dealing with these injuries from the accident. Kristen Mallory spends most of her time in a wheelchair.

"It's hard," Susan Mallory, Kristen's mom said. "I stay in Kristen's room with her so I'm not in the room with my husband. My husband and I have to tag team work hours so someone can always be here with her."

Mallory is now working to try and prevent this from happening to anyone else by educating the community about drinking and driving.

She has begun speaking at high schools, colleges and will soon speak to prison inmates. She gave a talk to the Department of Corrections in January to a group of 55 employees and in March spoke at Eastern Mennonite University. She is doing another talk at Eastern Mennonite on Friday.

Mallory is speaking at 6 p.m. Monday at Stratford University at 6 p.m.

If you'd like to reach out to Mallory to speak, send an email to mallorysb@aol.com.

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