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Fernandina Beach Crash Victim Urges Drivers to Avoid Impaired Driving
13 Nov
Summary
- Lillian Rapske hit by drunk driver on Halloween night
- Suffered collapsed lung, broken ribs, fractured wrist, and sprained knee
- Encourages others to plan ahead and avoid driving while impaired
On Halloween night, a Jacksonville woman named Lillian Rapske was leaving her family's house in Fernandina Beach and heading back to Jacksonville when she was struck by a drunk driver. The crash happened in an instant, sending Rapske's car off the roadway.
"This is not happening; this is not real," Rapske recalled. "This can't be real, and then it became very real, very quick."
Rapske was taken to the hospital and is now recovering from her injuries, which include a collapsed left lung, broken ribs on the left side, a fractured wrist, and a severely sprained knee. The other driver involved in the incident is facing DUI charges and is just one of over 1,600 DUI arrests the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has made so far this year.
Rapske is now encouraging other drivers to think twice before getting behind the wheel while impaired, especially during the holiday season. "It's unforgivable and frankly super avoidable in this day and age," she said. "Have a plan in place. Be prepared. Know I'm going to take an Uber. Know I'm going to take a Lyft. Know I'm going to have a designated driver."
