My daughter, Michelle, was just 18 years old when her life was tragically cut short by a woman driving drunk—twice over the legal limit. Michelle was a passenger in the car that was struck head-on by the intoxicated driver, and she was killed almost instantly. The crash also left her friend, the driver of their car, in critical condition.
Michelle left behind a loving family: her parents, two brothers, a sister, and her young son. She was a vibrant spirit with dreams of performing on American Idol. Her incredible voice and passion for drama were a source of joy for everyone who knew her.
Our lives were shattered that day. I lost my job, and our family was uprooted from everything we had known. Two years later, my mother-in-law passed away from a broken heart, followed exactly one year later by my father-in-law, who also succumbed to his grief. This crash destroyed the very foundation of our family, all because of one woman’s reckless choice.
The woman who hit them accepted a plea deal for 10 years after 13 months of navigating the court system for intoxication manslaughter with a weapon. In Texas, this charge is escalated due to the involvement of an impaired individual and a deadly tool, leading to severe penalties. Yet, she served only 5 years before making her first parole.
This was not an accident; it was a violent crime!
Mindy Red, Michelle’s Mom