His decision to drink and drive killed the mother of his children and two of his friends. That's the story of Joseph Campbell, an inmate housed at the Wyoming Honor Farm in Riverton, and he is featured in a new video message released by the Governor's Council on Impaired Driving in partnership with the Wyoming Department of Corrections.

In 2016, Campbell was drinking and driving when he slammed into the back of a semi at 80 miles per hour. He's currently serving time for three counts of aggravated vehicular homicide.

"I killed my girlfriend, the mother of my kids. I took away a mother, somebody's sister, somebody's brother, somebody's son, somebody's nephew," Campbell says in the video. "I just hope maybe my story will make somebody think, before going out drinking and driving."

Every single day in Wyoming, someone gets behind the wheel, drunk or high, and risks the safety of everyone around them, according to the Wyoming Department of Transportation. In 2018, there were 697 alcohol-involved traffic crashes. 32 of those were fatal crashes and 270 were injury crashes. This represents a 4% increase in alcohol-involved crashes from 2017.

The worst states for highway deaths caused by drunk driving, per capita, are Wyoming, South Carolina, North Dakota, New Mexico, and Alabama, According the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as compiled by Safewise.com.

Wyoming, which ranked eighth in 2016, rose to the top of the list in 2017 and replaced Montana as the worst per capita state for drunk driving fatalities in the nation.

“Alcohol and drugs can affect your judgement, depth perception, and the vital motor skills required to drive safely,” said Wyoming Highway Patrol Colonel Kebin Haller. “Drunk driving is not only a moral issue, but a crime, and the solution to this problem does not just rest in the hands of law enforcement. Every licensed driver in Wyoming has the ability to make a conscious choice not to drive impaired. There is always a better option. Keep our roadways safe by not drinking and driving.”

You can learn more about the Governor’s Council on Impaired Driving at www.wygcid.org

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