In 1997, a young girl’s life was tragically cut short in a way that still echoes today. Her last words, spoken in pain and fear, are a stark reminder of how one decision, one moment of recklessness, can change everything. It wasn’t her choice to end up lying on the road that night. It wasn’t her choice to be the one left in the wake of someone else’s actions. But that’s exactly what happened.
She had gone out to a party, like many young people do. She’d heard all the warnings, the well-meaning advice from her family. Her mother had always told her not to drink alcohol, to stay safe, to make the right decisions. That night, she did just that. She made the choice to drink a Sprite, to stay in control, to be responsible. She felt proud of herself for making the smart, healthy decision. Her mother’s voice echoed in her mind as she made that choice. She had listened. She had taken her mother’s words to heart.
As the night ended and the party wrapped up, the atmosphere shifted. People who had been drinking started to head to their cars. The decision to drive after drinking is one that many make without considering the consequences. But for this young girl, she didn’t have to make that choice. She had kept her head clear. She knew the dangers of drunk driving all too well.
Walking to her car, she felt confident she would make it home safely. She had made the right choices. She would be okay. But little did she know, fate had other plans.
Suddenly, there was a crash. The sound of metal crunching, the shattering of glass. It all happened so fast. One moment she was on her way home, the next moment her world turned upside down. Her body was thrown to the ground, pain coursing through her. And as she lay there, struggling to breathe, she could hear the voices around her. The voices of the police, the paramedics, the doctors. She tried to focus, to stay awake, to hold on.
The police officer’s voice was calm, but the words he spoke hit her like a slap. “The driver who caused the crash was drunk,” he said.
Her mind couldn’t process it at first. Drunk. It didn’t make sense. She had made the right decision. She had stayed sober. But someone else hadn’t. Someone else had chosen to drink and drive, and now she was paying the price.
The pain in her body was unbearable. It felt like every part of her was being torn apart. She tried not to cry, to keep her composure, but it was impossible. And then she heard the doctors speak, their words cutting through the haze of her thoughts. “This girl is going to die.”
In that moment, she didn’t ask for answers. She didn’t question why this was happening to her. She didn’t have the strength to be angry. All she could think about were the people she loved. Her family. Her mother.
“Why do people do this, Mom?” she thought. “Don’t they know it can ruin lives?”
The answer, she would never know. But she knew one thing for sure: a single moment of reckless decision-making had shattered everything. The boy who had chosen to drink and drive wasn’t thinking about the consequences. He wasn’t thinking about the people who would be affected by his actions. And now, she had to pay the ultimate price.
Her breathing grew slower. The pain continued to intensify. Her body was giving out. And yet, in those final moments, all she wanted was to say goodbye to the people she loved most.
« Please tell my sister not to be scared, » she thought, « Tell Dad to be strong. »
She wanted to reassure them, to tell them everything would be okay, but it wasn’t. She wasn’t going to make it. “I love you so much, Mom,” she thought, her heart breaking with the words she could no longer say aloud. « I wish I could get one last kiss. »
And in that moment, her thoughts turned to the boy who had caused this pain. « Someone should have told him how dangerous it is to drink and drive, » she thought. « Maybe if his parents had warned him, I would still be alive. »
She felt herself slipping away. The world was growing darker. She wanted to feel her mother’s arms around her, wanted to be held just one last time. But that wasn’t going to happen. She was alone now, dying on the side of the road.
And then, she tried one last time to say what she needed to say: « Mama… I love you. Goodbye. »
These were her last words, spoken in the final moments of her life.
A journalist from Telecinco was on the scene that night. He was there, he heard everything. And what he heard didn’t just break his heart—it fueled a fire to do something, to make sure others didn’t have to go through the same heartbreaking loss.
He started a campaign to stop drunk driving. He shared the story of the young girl’s last words with the world, hoping to make a difference. He wanted people to understand the devastating consequences of drinking and driving. He wanted people to know that it’s not just the person behind the wheel who suffers, but the innocent lives that are affected. One bad decision can change everything.
That campaign grew, and it spread. It touched hearts across the world. And even now, years later, it continues to make an impact. The story of that young girl, her final words, and the warning she left behind is a message that still resonates. It’s a message that has the power to save lives.
If you’re reading this, don’t let it end here. Share it. Talk about it. Have those tough conversations. Make sure that the people you love understand the dangers of drinking and driving. Maybe it won’t make a difference today, but maybe, just maybe, it will save a life tomorrow.
It only takes a small message to make a big difference.
