VIDOR, Texas — A Vidor man has embarked on a personal crusade to help remind drivers not to drive drunk this 4th of July weekend.
He's building and erecting crosses in a tribute to those who've lost a loved one to a drunk driver.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says every day almost 30 people in the nation die in drunk-driving crashes and many of these happen on the Fourth of July.
Robert Molenda is hoping his crosses will encourage someone to make the right choice.
America's star-spangled birthday is a dangerous time to be on the road.
Molenda is trying to make difference for this coming Fourth of July celebration
Molenda calls it a 'community service.' He's created crosses to provide for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), a nonprofit organization that seeks to stop drunk driving.
"It's to be placed at the site where ever that person lost their life," Molenda said.
"Mothers Against Drunk Driving will be able to write on the cross for each one with a name, date when they were born," Molenda said.
Molenda says in march of 2001, he became a victim of a drunk driver.
"A 70-year-old woman pulled out in front of me and I hit her doing 65 miles an hour. No brake," Molenda said.
It's left him with a noticeable scar on his neck.
"Life flighted, 22 units of blood, and had my teeth missing," Molenda said.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more people die in drunken driving crashes in July than any other month, the Fourth of July being the big factor.
In 2017, about 40% of all traffic deaths were alcohol-related during the 4th of July week.
"It's so avoidable."
Molenda said he's all for celebrating the nation's birthday, but hopes responsibility will be on everyone's mind.
"You're putting your life in danger and you're putting my life in danger and everyone else's life in danger," Molenda said.
He said he still needs to sand and paint the crosses before giving them to MADD.