Note: This video is from a previous FOX 2 report.
TROY, MO – A year after a woman lost her husband and baby boy to a drunk driver, she sat down and wrote a heartbreaking account on Facebook of the day her life changed — and delivered a powerful message to combat drunk driving.
On September 20, 2014, Destiny Mantia was in the car with her 15-month-old son, Parker, and husband, Corey, when an intoxicated woman crossed the center line on highway 47 between Hawk Point and Troy, MO. The driver slammed head-on into the family’s Chrysler Town and Country, crushing the family car. All three were wearing their seat belts, but the damage to the Mantias’ car was so extensive Parker died in the crash, and both Destiny and her husband had to be airlifted to a hospital, where Corey later succumbed to his injuries.
The drunk driver was also killed in the collision.
On Sunday, Mantia wrote an emotional post on Facebook describing the day her world changed in an instant, and delivering a message to all drivers that has since been shared more than 15,000 times.
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 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 loose 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. She 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 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.
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!
