Drunk driver leaves officer to struggle

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Police departments in Hampton Roads set up checkpoints throughout the area all weekend to catch drunk drivers. 

The dangers of drinking and driving are very real. A drunk driver has forever changed the life of Virginia Beach police officer.

Officer Ted Marriner's life didn't turn out the way he wanted.

"It's just a struggle daily," Marriner said.

At one point, Marriner had a good job. He had his dream job.

"My passion in life was to always be an officer," Marriner said. "I was always trying to help someone from the time I was 16 years old."

Marriner wore the badge and uniform proudly everyday day for 11 years in Virginia Beach.

That all changed, July 4th, 2005.

Marriner was working the graveyard shift, and on a traffic stop on Oceana Boulevard.

"When I sat in my car a drunk driver going approximately 50 miles per hour was going down the shoulder of the road and ran into my patrol car," Marriner added.

The impact crushed his car.

"It was probably the hardest hit I ever had in my life," he said.

Marriner suffered a severe head injury. Things haven't been the same since.

"To be able to help people was just an amazing part of your life," Marriner added. "To not be able to do that leaves you having no direction."

The injury caused the officer problems with his vision, memory and balance. Unable to work the streets, he was forced to medically retire.

"After 11 years of doing that in Virginia Beach as a police officer, to have that taken away it rips the entire life out of you," Marriner said.

And he says it's was all because of a drunk driver.

"I did nothing wrong," Marriner said. "My life was flipped upside down."

To this day, Marriner still can't work. He still suffers everyday. Unlike the driver who hit him.

Marriner is asking other drunk drivers to stop before getting behind the wheel.

"Think about the lives that are ruined," Marriner added. "Think about the people that are killed everyday by somebody who drinks and drives."

Marriner is still on workman's compensation. He makes extra money as a motorcycle mechanic.