A Missouri mom’s heartbreaking post reliving the tale of how an DUI-related car accident killed her husband and infant son has gone viral.
In fact, “gone viral” probably isn’t doing it justice. It’s taken the web by storm as she hopes to reduce alcohol-related tragedies like hers.
Destiny Mantia of Winfield, Missouri, told ABC News this week.
“I never expected it to go viral, but it’s nice to know that you’re making a difference so maybe nobody else has to experience this.”
“Imagine if we had one person to stop someone from getting into that car,” she adds. “Just think if someone did that at every party.”
“The amount of drunk driving accidents would be cut immensely.”
Mantia, 22, met her husband, Corey, when the two were in 10th grade. Just a few years years later, the young couple married.
Destiny gave birth to a baby boy, Parker Lee, June 23, 2013.
Then, on September 20, 2014, Corey and Parker were driving her across town for an appointment when a motorist hit their minivan.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol noted that alcohol was a contributing factor in the fatal accident, on the part of the other driver.
Baby Parker died at the scene, whereas his father Corey, after fighting for his life for almost 24 hours, died less than a day later.
The woman who hit them also died. Only Mantia survived.
“I grieved for Corey, I needed him,” Mantia said.
“I needed him to tell me ‘Everything is going to be OK.’ After I realized there was nothing I could do to bring them back is when I grieved Parker.”
“It’s almost unimaginable at times.”
Mantia said the driver’s family never reached out, something that upsets her. “I wish they would apologize,” Mantia said of herfamily.
“She was at a wedding reception; I feel like there must have been at least 100 people that could’ve stopped her from driving that night.”
Last Sunday, exactly one year after the accident, Mantia posted a devastating recap of what happened on the day she lost her family:
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 Clubhouse, 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 loose his fight 24 hours later. She would cause a family to be devastated and emergency personnel to need counseling.
That day the Destiny that was a mom and wife died as well. I’ve sense 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.
Mantia concluded the post by pleading with others not to drink and drive:
This hurt, pain and our future could of 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!
Amen.