On April 16, 2005, at age 28, East Texas resident Daniel Blalock was severely injured by a drunk driver in a head-on collision on Texas Highway 135. Emergency crews used the jaws of life to free him from his friend’s car in which he had been a front-seat passenger. Mr. Blalock suffered near-fatal injuries and is now permanently disabled. 

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), alcohol-impaired driving is the most frequently committed violent crime in the United Sates. As a volunteer for MADD, Mr. Blalock serves as a speaker for the Partners for Youth program, which provides education for youth that have received alcohol-related citations.  

"I believe that God saved me for many reasons; the main one is to share my testimony with as many people as possible,” Mr. Blalock said. “It brings me great satisfaction to work with youth, and it is my hope that my story will inspire them to make smart and responsible choices in the future.” 

On Tuesday, November 17, MADD will honor Mr. Blalock at the community-wide kickoff of their fifth annual safety awareness campaign, Tie One On For Safety, being held at the University of Texas at Tyler Ornelas Activity Center. Along with Mr. Blalock, MADD will be honoring law enforcement and community leaders and reminding everyone to drive safe, sober, and buckled up. 

Mr. Blalock also volunteers for the Bridges to Life Restorative Justice Program, a nonprofit organization whose primary mission is to reduce crime by reducing the recidivism rate of released inmates. By participating in face-to-face sessions inside the prison, both victims and offenders participate in a restorative justice process. Mr. Blalock is an Awana leader and an Afterschool Program leader at East Mountain Baptist Church. 

Born in Gladewater, Texas, Mr. Blalock and his wife, Genell, reside in the Union Grove area. They are the parents of Scott, 16, Brandon, 15, Sabrina, 14, JT, 12, and Briyana,4. 

“The MADD organization continues to show our family so much love and support during this trying time in our lives. It is my passion to work with MADD in the hope of one day eliminating drunk driving. Being a volunteer is also my way of giving back to the people who have helped me,” Mr. Blalock said.