Father Of Teen Killed By Driver Suspected Of DUI Talks To CBS13
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – A devastated dad lost his son one month ago in a wrong way crash.
Prosecutors say the driver who killed him and two other teens was drunk. But Chris Witt, father of crash victim Mathew Beard-Witt, says he himself is no stranger to the pitfalls of alcohol.
"I said, 'See you guys later. Love you Mathew,'" Chris said.
They were his last words to his son. A few hours later, Mathew Beard-Witt, his girlfriend Kendra Langham and friend Matt Azar died in a crash just a few minutes from home.
"He was my buddy and I don't have him anymore," Chris said.
Mat was his only child.
"My son's ashes; little piece of Mathew is in here," Chris said.
Since the accident four weeks ago, Chris has slept in his son's room. He surrounds himself with pictures of Mat.
"And then like this is the first day of kindergarten," Chris said.
The happy memories throughout the short years he had with his son.
"My son had actually made this for me, 'Happy dad day. Love, Mathew.'"
Investigators say the 24-year-old driver who hit the teens head-on was going the wrong way on Interstate 80 with his headlights off – drunk and high on marijuana.
An open bottle of rum was allegedly found in the suspect's car.
"No way in hell I can forgive this person," Chris said.
And while he can't forgive the suspect, he's very familiar with what alcohol can do to people.
"April 21st I'll be five years sober," Chris said.
You see, Chris is an alcoholic.
"Twelve pack a night, maybe even an eighteen pack a night," Chris said.
He says Mat saw his father at his best and his very worst.
"I'd yell for no reason. I was a little abusive maybe at times and I felt really bad," Chris said.
It was after he'd lost his wife and his job Chris says he quit cold turkey.
And his son was there to tell him. He was proud of his sobriety.
"I was glad to be sober. I was glad for it to be over. I was glad for a new relationship with my son," Chris said.
But ultimately, and ironically, it would be alcohol that played a factor in Mat's death, according to investigators.
"When you're intoxicated and when you've had way too much we all do stupid things," Chris said.
Despite his pain, Chris shares those words of empathy to the suspect through his own experiences with alcohol.
However, he does say he'll never understand why the suspect got behind the wheel.
"Since day one he's been my pride and joy. I'd die for him," Chris said.
Last week, Chris buried his only son. It's a tragedy he hopes will stop someone else from driving drunk.
And for him, it's given him more of a reason to stay sober.
"I don't have what's really important to me and that's my son ... And it hurts not having him here."
Chris says he never drove drunk himself when he was drinking heavily. He wonders if the suspect was coming from a bar or a restaurant or a party.
If he was, Chris wants to know why no one stopped him from getting behind that wheel.