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TROY, Missouri — One year after losing her husband and baby boy in a horrific crash involving a drunk driver, a mother's heartbreaking Facebook tribute is touching the hearts of hundreds of thousands.
Destiny Mantia's life was forever altered on Sept. 20, 2014. As she and her family were driving to an appointment, they were struck head-on by an SUV driven by an intoxicated woman who crossed the center line of the highway, according to Fox2Now.
Despite the fact that the entire Mantia family was wearing seatbelts, Parker, age 1, died instantly. Mantia and her husband Corey were airlifted to a hospital, where Corey died the next day. The driver of the other car died at the scene.
"I never got to see my son's first haircut. Me and my husband never got to buy our first house together," Mantia told Fox2. "There were just so many things we had in the plans, so much we were working towards that's ever going to happen now, and it all could have been prevented."
So on the anniversary of the worst day of her life, Mantia took to her Facebook page to honor her little family with a powerful message: Do not drink and drive.
One selfish decision to drink and drive caused me to be a widow and a mom to an angel at the age of 21... That day, the Destiny that was a mom and wife died as well.
–Destiny Mantia
"One selfish decision to drink and drive caused me to be a widow and a mom to an angel at the age of 21," Mantia wrote. "She ended my 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."
Mantia's honest and heartwrenching post included pictures of the crash scene, her family and their gravesite. It's struck a chord with people all across the globe, receiving more than 40,000 shares in just a few days.
People from both sides of the spectrum have commented on her post — many sharing their stories of losing loved ones to drunk driving, as well as some who've battled substance abuse and vow to stay off the roads.
Mantia's story has been picked up by dozens of news outlets, something she hopes will ultimately end drunk driving.
The driver of the other car was attending a wedding reception before the crash, and Mantia is suing the social hall where the woman consumed alcohol before getting behind the wheel, according to the Clayton-Richmond Heights Patch.
Mantia's lawyers claim the hall showed negligence by allowing the woman to become intoxicated and then failing to stop her from leaving when she was visibly impaired.
"This hurt, pain and our future could have all been prevented if someone would have stepped up and stopped this selfish woman from drinking and driving," she wrote. "You can save someone's life too! Don't allow your friends and family to drink and drive… Be an advocate! Stand up with me! Let's stop this."
