Teenager Involved in Fatal Drunk Driving Crash Sharing Her Story
By: Jessica Reyes
Updated: April 6, 2012
A San Saba teen involved in a drunk driving crash that killed an Abilene boy is sharing her story with other teenagers in an effort to curb drinking and driving.
"Becca and I were going to just lay out and we get a call and they're like, 'let's go road tripping,'" she recalled.
Her friend James Gilger, who she calls "Morgan," came to pick her and a friend up.
"I never saw this stop sign, ever. I can remember the sounds, the collision of the vehicle and the sound, the tires," she said.
The car they hit belonged to the Mantanona family, on their way to Sea World in San Antonio. The crash killed eight-year-old Jarrett Mantanona.
Almost a year later, Micah said the crash has completely changed her life.
"It was hard when my mom was like, 'Get up, it's time to go to church.' And I was like, 'I don't want to go to church. Who's God? Why would be let this happen to their family, the Mantanonas? Why would God do any of this?' Then one day, I snapped out of it and I thought, 'You're being selfish, you're being stupid,'" she said.
She shared her story with other teens for the first time last week at the Shattered Dreams program at Early High School.
"We're very proud of her. She's working hard to raise awareness, and I wish her the best in all of that and we're hoping that she'll keep it up," said Michelle Mantanona, Jarrett's mother.
"They weren't afraid to ask me questions and pull me aside and say, 'We do drink, but your story has made us feel like we don't want to do it anymore,'" Micah said.
Now she's hoping her story will make other teens think twice about drinking and driving.
"I could talk to a million kids, but as long as one of them listens, I've saved one person. And I may not save a million, but I've saved one. And maybe that one can go and pass along what they know and save somebody else," she said.
James Morgan Gilger pleaded guilty to intoxication manslaughter last December. He was sentenced to fourteen years in prison.
Jarrett's parents have planned a 5K race and food drive at Redbud Park for May 13, the one year anniversary of the crash. Click here for signup information.
"Becca and I were going to just lay out and we get a call and they're like, 'let's go road tripping,'" she recalled.
Her friend James Gilger, who she calls "Morgan," came to pick her and a friend up.
"I never saw this stop sign, ever. I can remember the sounds, the collision of the vehicle and the sound, the tires," she said.
The car they hit belonged to the Mantanona family, on their way to Sea World in San Antonio. The crash killed eight-year-old Jarrett Mantanona.
Almost a year later, Micah said the crash has completely changed her life.
"It was hard when my mom was like, 'Get up, it's time to go to church.' And I was like, 'I don't want to go to church. Who's God? Why would be let this happen to their family, the Mantanonas? Why would God do any of this?' Then one day, I snapped out of it and I thought, 'You're being selfish, you're being stupid,'" she said.
She shared her story with other teens for the first time last week at the Shattered Dreams program at Early High School.
"We're very proud of her. She's working hard to raise awareness, and I wish her the best in all of that and we're hoping that she'll keep it up," said Michelle Mantanona, Jarrett's mother.
"They weren't afraid to ask me questions and pull me aside and say, 'We do drink, but your story has made us feel like we don't want to do it anymore,'" Micah said.
Now she's hoping her story will make other teens think twice about drinking and driving.
"I could talk to a million kids, but as long as one of them listens, I've saved one person. And I may not save a million, but I've saved one. And maybe that one can go and pass along what they know and save somebody else," she said.
James Morgan Gilger pleaded guilty to intoxication manslaughter last December. He was sentenced to fourteen years in prison.
Jarrett's parents have planned a 5K race and food drive at Redbud Park for May 13, the one year anniversary of the crash. Click here for signup information.
Comments
hello my name is jose alfredo flores.i am very sorry to hear about the son of the family.my heart go out to this family.and to becca i know how u feel,and my heart go out to u also and i wish u the best in life and keep up the great job of talking to the youngster.me too am a 5 times dwi and i am in parole now.i will always pray for everyone.
jose f.
April 7, 2012 at 7:22 pm
