Mike Pipho's granddaughter was a victim of drunk driving accident.
MAPLE CITY -- A Leelanau County man is asking that people stay responsible New Year's Eve and every day of the year, especially after a drunk driving accident changed his family forever.
"Whether it be on life support or not, we were expecting those to be our last pictures, the diagnosis was not good," says Mike Pipho.
Pictures show the aftermath of a drunk driving accident that threatened the life of Mike Pipho's two year old granddaughter, Savannah Rose.
Little Savannah was in a truck with family members this past summer down in Texas when the nightmare happened.
"My father in law was struck by a drunk driver. He ran a red light and the pushed the pickup truck they were in, into a concrete pillar. My granddaughter was then rushed to the hospital and was put on life support for two weeks," says Pipho.
Pipho says the other children in the car and his father in law only had minor injuries...but it was Savannah that was in serious condition.
"The doctors were telling you that Savannah might not make it?" asks 7&4 News.
"They told us don't expect her to make it. They said don't expect her to make it and we will be asking you to pull the plug," says Pipho.
Yet, after two weeks of being on life support, Savannah finally opened her eyes and starting showing signs of improvement. Now, months later she's on the road to recovery.
"They did say to expect some brain damage but right now they're looking at 100% recovery," says Pipho.
Despite Savannah surviving the horrific accident, Pipho says people need to realize the effects of drunk driving. He not only saw his own granddaughter fight for her life...but at one point in his own life, he was on the other side of the steering wheel.
"25 years ago, I was that driver. I drank a case of beer and a bottle of tequila everyday and 21 years ago I quite. I don't do it anymore. But I was that driver and I didn't hit anyone or get into accident, I got lucky," says Pipho.
Now year's later, he's warning people to play it safe this New Year's Eve and everyday of the year. It's personal pictures that remind him of what drinking and driving can do.
"I see what it does to families, when a drunk driver hits a family member. Please, do not get behind the wheel of that car, if you have been drinking, please," says Pipho.
As far as the drunk driver allegedly responsible for the accident, he wasn't hurt, and now is out of jail on bond. Pipho says Savannah final recovery reports from the hospital, will determine if the driver will face any additional charges.
