According to PennDOT there were over 10,000 alcohol related crashes in Pennsylvania in 2017.
300 of them were deadly and two of those happened in Centre County.
 
The family of a state trooper who was killed by a drunk driver, wants to make people aware of how common this problem is.
 
The Iwaniec family shared their story with Penn State students at the Hub on campus, Wednesday night.
 
It was 10:30pm, March, 27th, 2008.  Pennsylvania Trooper Kenton Iwaniec was driving home from work in Chester County when a black Chevy Tahoe driving 73 in a 45, without its lights on hit him head on.  He died a few hours later.
 
“She crested a hill, crossed the line and he had no chance, he didn’t make a defensive move, never hit his brake, she never hit her brake either, I mean it was impossible for him to see her,” Acacia Houck, Trooper Iwaniec’s Sister, said.
 
Houck told Penn State students even if they aren’t driving under the influence they are still responsible for the people around them.

“If you see someone who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, don’t let them get into a vehicle, don’t get into a vehicle with them with someone who has been drinking or under the influence of drugs,” Houck said.
 
Penn State students say the tips they told everyone Wednesday night are important reminders and easy to do.
 
“The Uber riding, and to call your friends an Uber,” Alexander Roman, Penn State Student, said.  “I think that’s something that college students like ourselves could definitely utilize very easily and something that I do see a lot of and something as something as easy as going on an app.”

Houck says their family started the Trooper Kenton Iwaniec Memorial Foundation to raise money to buy breathalizers, now its become a way to continue his legacy.
 
“As a family we realized you can never prepare yourself for this kind of experience, but really, we turned to our faith and found strength in each other and are really just  using the life that Kenton lived to help to continue to share his message,” Houck, said.
 
To find out how you can donate to the trooper iwaniec foundation you can go to https://trooperiwaniec.org/