HOUSTON – A family who lost a loved one in a drunk driving crash is reminding others not to drink and drive this Super Bowl weekend.
“She was just somebody you would love to be around. She was always happy,” said Carla Lopez.
Lopez lost her cousin 26-year-old Janet Cruz in a drunk driving crash back on April 29, 2012.
She remembers it with an especially heavy heart because she was the driver responsible. Cruz was on the backseat of the car when Lopez lost control, hit a pole and crashed into a fence.
“This is something that I’m gonna have to live with for the rest of my life because of a wrong choice that I made getting behind the wheel drunk,” said Lopez.
Lopez served one year in prison and 10 years on probation. Her family, including Janet’s son Anthony Bermudez has forgiven her.
“My nephew Anthony and my niece Gabriella, they’re growing up without a mother because of me being irresponsible,” said Lopez.
Bermudez was 9 years old at the time his mother passed away.
“It changed from one day to another, my whole life changed completely,” said Bermudez.
As Super Bowl weekend approaches, they have a warning for others.
“It is something that can happen to anybody and I really want to tell people before anything tragic happens, it can be avoided,” said Bermudez.
AAA Texas said if you’ll be drinking this weekend, plan ahead, have a designated driver or call Uber or Lyft.