RMIIA News Releases

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Serving Colorado, New Mexico, Utah & Wyoming

Contact: Carole Walker, Executive Director
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A Victim of Last Month's Fatal Lakewood Crash Donates His Vehicle to Carry Tragic Reminder to Teens:  Make Safe Choices Behind the Wheel!

April 19, 2007 - During a morning news conference at Bear Creek High School in Lakewood, the family of 20 year-old Seth Mutschler announced that they will be donating his vehicle to the Colorado State Patrol, Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association and the Caitlyn Craig Foundation for use as statewide traveling educational display in the "Safe Choices" Program.

17 year-old Samara Stricklen was killed on March 13, 2007 when she was a passenger in the car driven by Mutschler and they were struck by an SUV driven by a 16 year-old girl and filled with teen passengers.  Stricklen was a student at Bear Creek H.S. and the announcement was followed by a school assembly sponsored by the Caitlyn Craig Foundation and CSP's Alive-At-25 Program.

The Safe Choices program has used donated cars from teen crashes for the past 15 years to carry a powerful message on the deadly consequences of unsafe choices such as, drinking and driving, carrying too many passengers, speeding, not wearing seatbelts and inexperience behind the wheel.  The displays are towed statewide by Klode Salvage and have been viewed by thousands at schools and safety events.

“We have asked these survivors to make the most difficult choice possible in allowing the symbol of their tragedy to be put on display,” says Carole Walker, Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association.  “But turning their grief into hope has given generations of teens a better chance at surviving being a teenager.”

“The Colorado State Patrol is committed to the Safe Choices Program because it is our #1 goal to save lives and prevent crashes,” says Major Ron Woods of the Colorado State Patrol.  “It takes the reality of these cars and their stories to make young people realize that bad choices can have deadly consequences.”

Suzanne Craig-McLeod's teenage daughter Caitlyn Craig died in a car that was donated from a 2003 crash near Chatfield High School.  Caitlyn was one of three teens who died when the 16 year-old driver made choices to speed and allow eight kids in her Chevy Impala.  McLeod assured the Mutschlers that their decision to make a difference will have an impact.  “Today is Caitlyn's birthday and the gift I have given to her memory over the years is to use my pain to help teens and parents understand that one decision can change your life and your families' lives forever.”

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Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association is a non-profit consumer information organization. Affiliated with the Insurance Information Institute, RMIIA has been serving consumers and the media since 1952.