On May 12, 2025, my life changed forever. My 22-year-old son, Sean, was involved in a devastating motorcycle crash at the intersection of Seminole Boulevard and 122nd Avenue in Largo, Florida. A driver, neglecting to yield the right of way, attempted a left-hand turn, leading to the crash that caused Sean catastrophic injuries. Just two days later, on May 14th, Sean was pronounced brain dead at Orlando Health.

Sean was a loving person, a Navy veteran, and someone who always tried to help others. He loved life and was a fighter.
After the crash, I was told that the trooper smelled alcohol and performed a DUI evaluation. I was also told that the other driver refused a blood test and refused to go to the hospital. I never received toxicology results from a blood test.
This experience has led me to fight for a change in Florida law. I believe every driver involved in a serious-injury or fatal crash should have evidence collected through blood testing for alcohol and drugs, regardless of whether impairment is initially suspected.
This is not about assuming someone is guilty. It is about making sure critical evidence is collected and preserved so investigators can determine what happened.
I lost my son. I cannot bring him back, but I can fight to make sure another family does not have to live with the same questions.
Sean was a fighter. That's why I'm fighting for Sean.

This tragedy highlighted a glaring gap in our traffic safety protocol—there was no mandatory toxicology test conducted on the involved driver despite the severity of the incident. If there had been, we could have gained critical insights into whether impairment played a role in this devastating event. Knowing that drivers aren't immediately tested for substance use following serious or fatal accidents is deeply unsettling. We need this information to ensure accountability and improve road safety.

Traffic regulations need revision to mandate automatic toxicology testing in all serious and fatal vehicle crashes statewide. In 2023 alone, Florida saw over 3,500 fatalities and countless injuries due to vehicle collisions, with impaired driving being a leading cause. As per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), alcohol-impaired driving involved 28% of traffic-related deaths in the U.S. in 2023. An automatic toxicology testing mandate would not only serve justice but also act as a deterrent for impaired driving, potentially lowering these numbers significantly.

A system ensuring automatic testing without waiting for signs of impairment will streamline legal procedures, providing necessary data to law enforcement. Many states, such as Michigan and Utah, have already implemented such measures and seen improved detection and deterrence of impaired driving. Florida, with its high population density and road network, needs similar robust policies to protect its citizens.

This tragic situation is personal to me and many others who have lost loved ones in similar circumstances. Acting now could prevent countless avoidable deaths and injuries, sparing others from suffering the pain of losing a child, like Sean, due to such oversight.

Let's honor Sean’s memory by enacting safer driving laws in our state. Please join me in demanding that Florida mandates automatic toxicology testing after serious and fatal crashes. Sign this petition to advocate for change and pave the way for safer roads in Florida.