METAIRIE, La. (WGNO) – “Vanessa was killed instantly, her aorta was severed and that’s about the only good thing that happened that night because Jessica lived another hour or so and they could not get her out of the car,” says Charlsey Wolff.
A drunk driver killed Wolff’s daughter Vanessa in October 2006, and her best friend Jessica died too.
The ten year anniversary of their death is approaching.
“It’s very hard to bury your child. I mean that’s tough, and we’ve visited her grave I can’t tell you how many times,” says Wolff.
Since the accident Charlsey is doing her part in the community to raise awareness about the potential consequences of driving drunk.
She founded the New Orleans Mother’s Against Drunk Driving chapter, or MADD and hopes their message is heard.
Drunk driving is distracted driving, she says.
“Anytime you drink and get behind the wheel of a vehicle you’re distracted. Your senses, your reactions, your ability to stop, to take in the entire situation is impacted,” says Wolff.
Vanessa’s friend Jessica was behind the wheel when an SUV ran through a red light and t-boned their car.
The man responsible is serving forty years in prison without probation.
Vanessa’s father tells us his blood alcohol level was two times over the legal limit.
“Every time we go out and speak if we change one person’s decision, just one, we may have saved a life,” says Wolff.
Charlsey says Vanessa’s death has “devastated their lives” and not a day goes by where she doesn’t think of her daughter.
Jessica was a recent graduate and a newlywed.
She did not make it to her 24th birthday.
“I wear her bracelet every day, the bracelet that I got for her and I think about what would have been and what could have been,” says Wolff.
Each Sunday during the Month of April we will bring you a new story about distracted driving.
This segment was brought to you by “SpeeDee Oil Change and Auto Service.”
