We all know never to drink and drive, no matter how sober we think we are.
That said, a reminder of how dangerous it is to drive drunk can't hurt.
Three days ago, 22-year-old Destiny Mantia posted a heartbreaking message on Facebook recounting the life-changing car accident she was involved in last year that claimed the lives of her son and her husband.
The Missouri resident was in the car with her husband, Corey, and her 15-month-old son, Parker, when they were hit nearly head-on by a drunk driver.
The couple's baby was killed instantly and Corey died 24 hours later in the hospital.
Though Mantia survived, in her post, she writes the crash killed her in a way as well. She said,
A year ago today was like many other days. Corey Mantia woke up and went to work. Parker and I stayed at home and played together all day. Corey later came home [and] played with our sweet baby as we waited to load up for a wrap appointment. That spare cash was much needed for our little family. Well time comes for us to leave. Little did we know in a few short minutes everything would change. We would no longer get to live our future together. Any dreams we had would no longer happen together. We wouldn't get to purchase our first house together, we wouldn't get to take Parker for his first hair cut, his first day at school, and our family would never grow. This would be it. Everything we would have ever known would come to an end and not by choice. On our way to this wrap appointment my amazing husband whom was driving, my precious baby whom I still nursed and kept rear facing watching Mickey Mouse Club house, and I were struck nearly head on at an excessive speed by a drunk driver. This is a date and time that will forever be embedded in my head. The action of this one selfish person who thought they were 'ok' to drive instantly took the life of my sweet innocent 15 month old son in the back seat. She would cause my husband and I to be air lifted from the scene where my husband would [lose] his fight 24 hours later. She would cause a family to be devastated and emergency personnel to need counseling. One selfish decision to drink and drive caused me to be a widow and a mom to an angel at the age of 21. [The driver] has caused many nightmares with the news of various reports being released such as an autopsy of my baby being sent to me or many reconstruction pictures. Many things a 21 year old should never have to see or imagine. She ended any dreams that we may have had together and caused pain I never knew existed. That day the Destiny that was a mom and wife died as well. I've [since] had to find myself. I never knew the strength I could pull out that I never knew I had. I think I was able to find this strength through the prayers and support of many friends and family and also an amazing widows group who kept me knowing I was normal for feeling how I felt. This hurt, pain and our future could [have] all been prevented if someone would have stepped up and stopped this selfish woman from drinking and driving. You can save someone's life too! Don't allow your friends and family drink and drive. Don't share DUI checkpoints. Be an advocate! Stand up with me! Let's stop this. One is too many. DONT DRINK AND DRIVE!
The young woman's tragic story is sadly exceedingly common; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates approximately 30 people die in drunk driving-related accidents every day -- and that's just in the United States.
It should go without saying there is never a reason to drink and drive, yet people continue to do it, and continue to die from it.
So if you're ever in a position in which drinking and driving is a possibility, remember this woman's story and call yourself a cab. It could save your life.
This is Destiny Mantia and her family...
...and this is the car accident that claimed her family members' lives.
The innocent, loving family was struck by a drunk driver...
...and Mantia lost her husband and son.
Protect yourself. Protect others. Don't drink and drive.
Citations: 'She caused pain I never knew existed': Mother writes heartbreaking open letter a year after drunk-driver killed husband and baby son in car crash (Daily Mail)
