Brown Deer couple: Wrong-way drunk driver 'could've killed us'
BROWN DEER, Wis. - A Brown Deer couple is lucky to be alive after surviving a wrong-way crash in August; their message: Please don’t drink and drive.
Payrris Jefferson said it will take up to six months for her broken arm to heal. She and her husband shared their story after the crash in hopes of making others think again before getting behind the wheel and driving drunk.
"I seen headlights coming around the corner of the Fond du Lac exit," said Melvin Jefferson.
It’s been three weeks since Melvin Jefferson and his wife, Payrris Jefferson, headed north on I-43 in Milwaukee. What happened next, Melvin said, he just couldn’t avoid.
"I could remember blowing my horn, braking," said Melvin Jefferson. "It just seemed like to me there was no way out of this."
"I looked up -- boom," said Payrris Jefferson.
The Jeffersons were left with broken bones, scars and memories of the wrong-way crash.
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"I’m in excruciating pain," said Payrris Jefferson.
As for Melvin, one thing he still can’t shake is feeling helpless after the crash.
"I was unable to protect me and my wife," said Melvin Jefferson. "It was scary to have that feeling."
The wrong-way driver the couple says hit them is 30-year-old Kaycee Kerr. She’s facing four charges, including injury by intoxicated use/vehicle and ignition interlock device tampering/failure to install.
"She could’ve killed us," said Jefferson.
The Jeffersons said they're still nervous about driving but grateful to be alive.
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"We survived a head-on collision. That’s rare," said Payrris Jefferson.
Payrris said she's lost a sense of independence.
"I’m a stay-at-home mom, and I make things and I can’t do that," said Payrris Jefferson.
She also said it's been difficult to care for her children, and she couldn't do it without help from family.
But their biggest message is this:
"Don’t drink and drive. It’s Ubers out here. Call a friend. We literally almost lost our life," said Payrris Jefferson.
The Jeffersons set up a GoFundMe.com account to help with medical bills.
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