Representatives of MADD West Virginia and officials from Ohio County traveled to Charleston recently to recognize U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., for her efforts to save lives.
Capito was presented with the MADD Legislative Hero Award this past week in her Charleston office. She earned the award for her support of the HALT/RIDE Act that could potentially require new vehicles to have alcohol-related safety technology.
MADD W.Va. Chapter President/Victim Advocate Jody Miller presented Moore Capito with the award. Miller is the Ohio County Schools Federal Programs secretary, and she was named as the school system’s most recent Service Personnel Employee of the Year. Miller received that award, in part, for her work and involvement with the Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) organization at Wheeling Park High School.
Miller, who lost her 21-year-old daughter, Heather, in a 2008 alcohol-related vehicle crash, said Capito is deserving of the Legislative Hero Award, and she added that the senator will be essential in ensuring life-saving legislation becomes law.
“Her leadership is crucial in this effort,” Miller said. “I’m so thankful for her support of the HALT/RIDE Act, which is a provision that will provide technology in vehicles to prevent drunk driving. There are roughly 10,000 drunk-driving crashes each year, and Sen. Capito is committed to reducing that number and saving lives by advancing automotive technology.”
In addition to Miller, MADD W.Va. Victim Services Specialist Margie Sadler and Wheeling Police Department Sgt. Gregg Harris took part in the award presentation.