Man Says Paralyzed Wife Ejected From Fair

MADD's Response

A call to the Idaho MADD chapter seeking comment wasn't immediately returned. The chapter released a statement in a link on its Web site.

"The incident, we are told, centered on complaints made to the Idaho State Fair officials on Tuesday, Aug. 19 about the disabled victim/survivor who was present at the MADD information booth," the statement read. "Those complaints were allegedly made by patrons and vendors to fair officials on Tuesday and one official in turn asked the volunteers to leave the fairgrounds, out of concern for his wife, as well as for the safety of those at the fair."

"Since the volunteer always attends MADD events with his wife, we informed him not to attend on the Wednesday evening until we had an opportunity to connect with the organizers at the Idaho Fair," the statement continued.

"We also shared that we would visit with him and his family later to best determine future sites and venues and to discuss the best way to set this family up for success in expressing their pain and grief associated with the devastating crime of drunk driving."

Mike Harn quickly pointed out that his wife was not on a gurney, but a type of wheelchair that can be adjusted so his wife is sitting up, reclining or lying flat. She was reclining on the day of the fair, he said.

Misty Moyse, a national spokeswoman for the Dallas-based MADD, said the group is committed to working with survivors and victims in a variety of ways, including victim impact panels.

However, she said, "I think that news reports are sensationalizing this a little bit, for sure."