FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Contact: Robert Preston, Jr.,
912.260.4276
robert.preston@sgc.edu
Eric Krug, ‘Deadly Decisions’ Program Visits SGC on
Tuesday
April 11, 1997, was the most significant day in Eric Krug’s
life. It was his 21st birthday, the day he finally became “legal.” But
that’s not why it was so important.
That night, hours after playing in a baseball game for the Oglethorpe
University Stormy Petrels against the West Georgia Wolves, Eric made a
decision that changed his life forever. It seemed so routine, so minor. Eric
and a friend, Tim, had celebrated after the ball game. It was late and they
were heading back to campus. A friend had called a cab for Eric and Tim. But
before they hopped in the cab, a few more friends drove up and said they
would give them a ride.
Eric and Tim sat down inside the vehicle, which was being driven by Tim’s
girlfriend, who had been drinking. They were almost at their destination,
just a few hundred yards away, when the driver ran into a tree. The accident
killed Tim and left Eric critically injured.
Eric survived, but he wasn’t the same. The crash severed Eric’s right arm,
which doctors reattached, and broke his neck, fractured his skull in two
places and damaged each of the lobes of his brain. Doctors did not think he
would survive. Against the odds, he did, though his life today is
drastically different than it was then.
On Tuesday, March 16, Eric will visit South Georgia College to share his
story as a part of the college’s Alcohol Awareness Week activities. Eric can
no longer speak. However, his mother, Joyce, speaks for him, relating to the
audience what Eric went through in his own words. She also discusses the
accident and Eric’s ongoing road to recovery from her perspective. Eric
would prefer to personally give the speech that he wrote but that’s not
possible.
It’s a powerful and tragic, yet touching, presentation. Though Eric has no
memory of the accident, he is fully aware of his condition and how he came
to be so confined. He spent 11 months in a low level coma and battled high
fevers, pneumonia and staph infections. He “ate” through a feeding tube.
Eric remained on the brink of death for weeks after the accident.
Today Eric is 32 years old. He no longer plays baseball. He is on a bigger
mission now. He no longer saves games with clutch double plays. Now Eric
saves lives by sharing his powerful and inspirational story in high schools,
colleges, churches, and military bases throughout the state of Georgia.
There is no charge, and all are welcomed and encouraged to attend.
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About South Georgia College
South Georgia College (www.sgc.edu)
was founded in 1906 and is a two-year institution in the University System
of Georgia. Located in Douglas, Ga., the college's environment gives
students exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close
collaboration with faculty.
