PORT NECHES, Texas — As 2023 comes to a close advocates against drunk driving are sharing a message about how to keep the roads safe this New Year's.
Jacob Blanchard, a Port Neches father who lost his daughter to a drunk driver, has joined Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). He says the decision to drive under the influence is a choice made completely sober.
Blanchard doesn't want anyone to experience the pain of losing a loved one to a drunk driver. So, he's asking everyone to think ahead before getting behind the wheel on New Year's.
"Most people don't think that they're gonna get caught, they think they're driving a short distance home. 'Look I'm just around the corner at the bar. I can make it home, I know I can. I'm not that drunk'," said Blanchard.
Blanchard is dedicated to keeping these common mistakes from happening. He joined MADD after his daughter Jillian was killed by a drunk driver in 2020.
"Ran over a man on a bicycle five miles before he hit our daughter. And decided to keep driving. Instead of stopping and rendering aid. So he took the life of a father and a husband, a father of three kids," Blanchard said.
Jerrod Lee Watkins was sentenced to 40 years in prison for killing both Jillian and Robert Jackson.
"The next day the people who are committing some of these tragedies or costing people their lives are sorry. It's too late to be sorry then. When it's something we can prevent," said Jefferson County Sheriff Zena Stephens.
Sheriff Stephens knows how it feels to tell a person they've killed someone the previous night while driving drunk.
"You know, could you live with yourself? You know? How do you face other family members or even face yourself knowing that you committed this this act," she said,
Sheriff Stephens also lost her deputy, James Lee in July of 2022 to a drunk driver.
"Was cutting grass in his front yard and a drunk driver. A young person driving most of the day came around the curve and hit him on his lawn mower, in his front yard. Senseless, a senseless death," Stephens said.
Blanchard is encouraging people to find a sober ride this New Year's.
"Because the last thing you want is to bring in the New Year in jail. Or worse bring in the New Year deceased," he said.
Michael Miller has been indicted for intoxication manslaughter for Deputy Lee's death. His trail is expected to start next month.