Losing a Daughter

you've done an AMAZING piece! do you have a myspace page you can upload this to? i would like to put this on kelli's page to have it seen by thousands. i can relate SO much to this mom! i would very much like to have online contact with her if possible. one of the most powerful things you included was mom saying it's NOT AN ACCIDENT!! we need to change the way we think in america about that. how can anyone in the legal process do their jobs when they still think of it as an accident?!! they are bound to give too many breaks, not hard enough sentences and jury's dont want to send someone away for an "accident". please pass my email onto Danielle's mom. SCAGAINSTDUI@aol.com and also please visit kelli's page @ www.myspace.com/kelli_laine_doa

The Death of Danielle Romero was no accident:

Driving drunk is no accident.
It's a tragedy we can all prevent.

Danielle Romero was anxious to visit a friend,
But a drunk driver brought her life to an end.

On this fateful day if someone had only prevented this drunk from taking a careless drive,
A mother, father, sisters and friends wouldn't be suffering as Danielle would be alive.

In her final moments Danielle said a final prayer and to her Rosary she clung.
If you stop a drunk driver by hiding the keys, someone else won't die so young.

Let there be no mistake, the untimely death of Danielle Romero was no accident.
It's time to stop these thoughtless drunks from killing those who are heaven sent.

Danielle is gone but let her death give life to a movement that will protect others.
Prevent drunk drivers from getting behind the wheel and bringing grief to mothers.

It sounded like a bomb, a police officer had this look on his face, some of the painful memories that Danielle's mom must endure.
She wouldn't wake up, but will those who know drunk drivers wake up, to stop the terror of alcoholics your actions are the only cure.

This is so moving. You've done an amazing job. Drunk driving is such a serious problem- reckless driving is becoming more and more prevalent and it scares me so much. Yellow lights no longer mean yield- but rather "speed up and make it through the red" and red only means stop if you're fourth in line-(if that).
One of my friends was riding his bike home one night in July of 2005 and was hit by a drunk driver. He suffered intense brain damage and continues to struggle in his recovery. Though he is an inspiring individual surrounded by the strongest friends and family members - It is still so frustrating to know that it was, as Danielle's mother said- no accident. Drunk driving is avoidable. I wish you the best of luck in your documentary and efforts to make the world aware - again- of how terribly serious this all is. I just wonder- when will they listen??

I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. I feel really strongly that these stories need to be told. So many people don't want to listen but we still need to try. It's a huge problem and I really hope we can create a documentary that gets people to think twice and make a plan when they want to party.

I also want to thank Erin Hudson, who was another mentor on this project (left her off the credits... sorry :)

And of course, many thanks to Tina Romero, who gives so much in memory of her daughter Danielle.

I was very touched by this video. I hope the message will get through.

Thanks so much everyone. I will be sure that Tina hears all your kind words. She is an amazing person and she has inspired us to help her in her mission to help prevent more drunk driving deaths.

That's got to be hard to get through. How can we prevent this?

Powerfully effective...and I agree with Tina Romero that death by drunk driver is NOT an "accident" and IS preventable. My heart goes out to the family.

Steadward - my students and I are doing a series of DWI videos (psa)... I'd love to do a longer documentary as well. I'm hoping some idea, message or image will get stuck in someone's head. Ads are very powerful when done well... We'll keep trying and if we can save one life then it's worth it.

Barkway - I agree as well... it can be prevented. If people just think and plan... have a party but do it in safe situation. It's not worth killing yourself or someone else.

This video was very heart breaking, made me cry. My heart goes out to Danielle's family for their loss. More needs to be done against drinking and driving. Too many innocent people are getting killed by drunk drivers, and it's heart breaking to see the broken families that are left to cope with the loss!!

hi just wanted to say i hope that others will get to see this so they know the pain , and how a precious life could have been saved! my thoughts and prayers are with you!

I am glad to have been able to have seen this video i am so sorry for the lose of danielle hope fully this video will help others to not drink and drive.I live with a heavy drinker and i will not get a car cause i will be worried he will get the keys.

Thank you all for taking the time to watch the video... I hope we can make an impact and make people think before they drink and make a plan...

I am sorry. I have two daughters and they mean the world to me. Always remember, God is by your side. My prayers are with you.

Thank you for sharing your story....hopefully together we can make a difference. With much Love
Heike (Kevin's Mommy) He was killed by a Drunk Driver with the age of 5.

I found this video hard to watch, I have daughters of my own. This is tragedy, and should have never happened. I joined your "Myspace Page" that you listed here.

Not to take away from this story, I need comment on the editing and overall production as being very well done.

JC Johnson

I agree drunk driving is no accedent,you decide to drink and drive,This should make the news,talk shows.We need to get the message out more,and help save lifes.
Please get this on tv or a show so we can help saport this family, my heart and prayers go out to this family and any family who lost someone because of a stupid person who drinks then drives.GOD be with you all. Hugs n love Donna

Thanks so much everyone. As a father myself, it was a tough project to work on. It tore me apart thinking about what it would be like to lose a child. I really admire Tina's strength and the strength of others who survive this.

Thank you JCJohnson for the production comment as well. I'm really proud of my students. They've done beautiful work. We really wanted to honor this great person. I'm happy with all the positive feedback.

Sad, tragic and beautifully and bravely told. Being a newbie here in NM (2 years) i am shocked at what drunk drivers have been getting away with here. It is WAY out of control! Thank you for sharing this.

It is such a big problem in New Mexico. Unfortunately a lot of people think it's okay. I'm hoping we can expand on this and show how many lives this problem affects even in a small community.

I have lost friends this way.........it is not fair that because of someones irresponsibility families like the Romeros have to suffer....

very good work guys.
>.<

Dbocaz, what can I say that hasn't already been said except that I really liked the photography and the editing. There were very poignant moments that were emphasized with cut aways that were on target.

Thank you so much for suggesting I watch this video. I will cherish it.

A very effective film. Well chosen shots and editing
style to underline the emotion.

Thank you all... we were very lucky to have a chance to do this piece and thankfully I have some really talented students who could help pull it off.

No words can express the sorrow of losing a child but this piece was beautifuly done. It is compelling and sad without being over-emotional, which is a hard thing to do if you've lost a child. Losing my child is my greatest fear and now that he's 16 and starting to drive I am more worried than ever. It's a tragedy that parents have to worry about stupid people who commit murder by getting behind the wheel when drunk. Penalties need to be stiffer and drunk drivers should have to do community service in morgues and funeral homes taking care of the victims of this senseless crime.

Thanks for sending me the link. You've done a great service of personalizing the story of a young girl who would otherwise remain a statistic. These stories need to continue to be told.

I can be able to even remember all of this. Days since I last watched the tribute and I really can. Really evective. Good work, the clips really stick into a strangers mind. Makes sure your as aware as those bearing the real loss.

Thank you all for the kind comments.... Crystal_Moon... as a parent myself, I worry as well. I think that's why I started getting involved in these kind of projects. As a parent, you really want to do what you can to stop some of these problems. It's not easy but you never know... it might make a difference and keep our kids safe.

This was an amazing story... It's this reality that conciously keeps me from drinking and driving. We need to see more of these testimonies, so we can eventually see less.

Thank you DonQ... I really hope we can expand on this project and share more stories. We're developing something now in fact.

This is my nephew Michael, fondly nicknamed Happy by his many friends. Some of which only knew him of the name.
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At about 1:30am on Aug 8,2007 Michael and his new friend Kristina left a friends house in his car. Mike NEVER allowed anyone to drive his car, he even got upset with his parents wanting to use it. But for some reason still unknown to us he allowed this girl to drive it. My sister Vicki and her husband Chris along with their daughter Angela got the 3:30am knock at the door. The one no parent ever wants to get.They rushed to the hospital hoping that things weren't so bad. This is a picture of Michael's car at the scene, and that is his blood on the ground there.
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And this is my story.
Upon reaching the hospital Michael's parents were told that he has massive head trauma and many broken facial bones as well as his arm and his lung was collapsed. He was still in surgery when they arrived and were told that the hospital was doing all they could to help the pressure on the brain. I was out of town in Philly when this happend. I left to come home as soon as I could that day. The drive to Pittsburgh was horriable not knowing if Mike was still with us. When the Doctors came out of surgery they said things didn't look good, and Michael probably wouldn't make it. But we weren't giving up. We prayed and hoped that a miracle would happen. However on Aug 14 Michael had no more in him, and we sent him home to God. It was truly the worst thing a family can go through. Today we know a little more but not much. We do know that Michael was out with this girl because of 2 reason's one he liked her and two he was for some reason worried about her. We know that her B.A.C was .199 and his was little to none! We know that she's 21 and when she was 17 she was involved in another accident where another passenger died to the driver being drunk! She testified this in court. From that accident she got hurt pretty bad. And we also know that she's pleaing none other than "NOT GUILTY" in this case. Michael has been gone for a little over 5 months now and the pain never goes away. I'm learning that in the state of PA she's looking at up to 5yrs in prison, but very seldom do they get it. She has been in jail since Oct 27 because she's Ukrain and left Pittsburgh for a little at one point, so they say she's a flight risk. I am so worried they may give her timed served and let her go after her hearing. So here we are left with memories and a lifetime of pain. This is a tattoo I got of Michael, so he now goes everywhere I go.
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The drunk drivers in America are insane and have basically taken over our highways. We need to stand together and fighht back. I know I'll never get Michael back but through this if I can fight hard enough and long enough I would love to see longer and harsher penalities for drunk driving. We need to make our roads safe once and for all. Thank you for what you are doing and for reading my story.
Good Luck
God Bless.
Dianna Happys Aunt and don't forget it!

Thanks you so much for sharing your story!

i am sorry for your lost. your video is very touching and i actually cried while watching it. your narrative story remind me of my mom, because she does worry about me too much. well, just take care and god be with you. :0)
gabrielle

This video is very sad. I was about to cry. I always think about drunk drivers when i'm driving especially when I'm
with my son. I wouldn't want to lose my son to a drunk driver or anyone else I know. It's crazy having to worry about drunk drivers when driving! I think this video will get a lot of people to think twice about drinking and driving.
And to the family of Danielle. Stay strong and God bless.