Losing Only Daughter Due to Drunk Driver: Parent Tells Eureka Students What It's Like

In just 12 more days, on April 20, it will be six years since Brian Buchholz and his wife lost their only child in an auto accident caused by an intoxicated driver. This dad channeled his grief long enough to attend Drunk-U-Drama Thursday at Eureka High School to share his observations about the dangers of drinking and driving with nearly 1,000 seniors and juniors.

Buchholz' daughter, Nicole, was a 21-year-old college student majoring in photography at University of Missouri St. Louis. He said she was a passenger in a car in St. Louis, which was at a complete stop at an intersection. "A driver under the influence of alcohol came barreling through a red light at 70 mph in a 30 mph zone," he said.

"It was a four-lane intersection. He didn't honor the lights. It was a head-on collision."

Buchholz said the judge read more than 350 victim impact statements; the driver received a 10-year prison sentence as a result of the accident. His daughter received two funerals, with a closed casket due to her jaw being split open.

Nicole was a 2004 Parkway North graduate. Her father said she "hated the whole idea of drunk driving."

Buchholz recommended to Eureka students to always have a plan when around celebrations that involve alcohol or drugs. "Use good judgment. Stay somewhere and don't drive. Get your parents involved."

Eureka's Drunk-U-Drama was the second time Buchholz had addressed a group since his daughter's death and since becoming a part of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) group.

He asked students how many drinks they had to have before it would get them in trouble. "The answer is one...because you're all underage."

Buchholz said he would be watching the news this weekend, due to the Eureka High prom being held Saturday. "I can only give the message. I pray to God all of you will be listening. Don't let me see anything on TV or in the news about any of you."

Buchholz said it would be "another tough weekend" for his family, as they deal with all the reminders.

April 21 is the national day designated for parents to talk with their children about alcohol.