Shelley Merrill, professionally known as “Shelly Martinez” a co-host on a WCTY (Norwich) radio morning show, survived a horrible accident and is using her experience to educate others on the perils of driving under the influence.
In May of 2007, Merrill was a passenger in a truck on Route 2 near the Preston and Norwich town lines, when a drunk driver hit the side of their vehicle sending the truck out of control, causing it to roll over about five times.
The New Haven Register describes how Merrill was rushed to the hospital with multiple serious injuries and put in a medically induced coma. According to Merrill, she was technically dead and had to be resuscitated.
Merrill believes she survived so she can speak about the impact of drunken driving and help prevent future accidents. She now speaks regularly to first-time drunken-driving offenders and is active with MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Merrill helped to organize the group’s “MADD about Dancing” event; a celebrity dance competition held at Mohegan Sun which raised money for the organization.
