On Jan. 17, 2004, 18-year-old Christy Lovejoy’s car was hit head-on on C-470 by a bartender — a drunk bartender.
The bartender, who had a blood alcohol reading of .28, was driving eastbound in the westbound lanes of C-470 without his lights on.
He suffered a broken ankle.
In addition to 22 broken bones, Christy Lovejoy, now 22, suffered extensive brain damage.
Her mother, Tammy Lovejoy, said Wednesday that while Christy’s survival was a blessing, “the Christy we knew died that night.”
For his drunk driving, the bartender got three years in prison, serving a total of 10 months.
“Christy was in a wheelchair for over a year,” said Tammy Lovejoy. “She had to re-learn to walk, eat and be herself, and bathe herself.
Lovejoy appeared today at the State Capitol to kick off Colorado’s observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, which will be observed April 13-19.
Emily Tompkins, executive director for Mothers Against Drunk Driving Colorado, said the ceremony at the Capitol is designed “to put the spotlight on a 100 percent preventable crime that leaves many victims injured and bereaved in its wake – and that’s drunk driving.”
So far Christy Lovejoy’s medical bills have reached nearly $1 million and many more medical costs are expected throughout her life. By contrast, said Tammy Lovejoy, the man who crashed into her lives a normal life.
“The bartender is out on parole. He is living his life fully. He continues to be a bartender. He has a valid driver’s license and continues to live his life fully while Christy has been sentenced for life,” Tammy Lovejoy said.
Tammy Lovejoy is a licensed therapist and addiction counselor who has 150 clients, 85 percent of whom are DUI offenders.
She said that Christy’s story makes a deep impression on some of her DUI clients.
“When some of the clients find out, they say, ‘You’ve got to be kidding’.”
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
