A follow-up project to last years “I’M THAT GUY” anti drunk-driving presentations is underway by the South Jersey Traffic Safety Alliance. While awaiting sentencing, 25 year old Matthew Maher, a professional soccer player from Cape May County traveled to numerous high schools and colleges in Southern new Jersey to share his tragic story about his involvement in a fatal crash on the Atlantic City Expressway that was a result of his operating his vehicle while intoxicated.
Maher spoke to nearly 8,000 students in the southern New Jersey area making 34 appearances in high schools and colleges. The Alliance is attempting to keep the safety message going, and is producing a documentary short subject film updating events since Maher was sent to the Mid-State Correctional Facility, to serve his 5 and a half year sentence.
Teresa Thomas, SJTSA Program Manager said “When I learned that Matt’s website was getting between 200 and 300 hits a day I knew that his story was still relevant and that we needed to change up the video so we could take it back into the schools this year.”
John and Andrea Maher, Matt’s parents, along with his older brother Anthony, were all interviewed as part of the project. The Alliance also traveled to the Mid-State Correctional Facility to interview Matt in jail.
Thomas said “The shock value of this project will come from Matt from jail and his comments about jail. They are very sobering and hopefully they will be a real deterrent for the teens.”
To view the current video or read about Matt’s experiences in jail, please go to www.themattmaherstory.com
For more information about other traffic safety education and training programs visit www.SJTSA.org
Court House – Is Mechanic Street in Cape May Court House getting smaller? It's getting harder and harder to maneuver around the car doors opening in front of you as you drive along. It's a nail biter!
