The crash happened in 2013, but the raw emotions of that fateful morning are still real for Gary Catronio and his family. "It's as though we lost her yesterday," said Gary. "The pain never subsides."

Life changed for the Catronios the morning of November 17, 2013. On that day, Gary’s 21-year-old daughter Marisa and her best friend Kaitlyn Ferrante, were traveling home after spending time with friends near the Florida coast. Just before 2AM on the Sawgrass Expressway, a speeding car, traveling the wrong way, crashed into Marisa and Kaitlyn with an impact so forceful, it took both of their lives.

"That day we lost our daughter (Marisa) and our daughter at heart (Kaitlyn)," said Gary. "These beautiful, young souls who brought light and love into the world are gone forever."

"They had bright, promising futures," said Kaitlyn's mom, Christine. "Two smart, strong women whose big dreams were just about to begin."

According to reports, the driver hit the pair head on. Her blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit. "This tragedy was 100 percent preventable,” said Christine. “No one should ever experience the searing heartache all of us feel every day.”

Making a Change:

Within 24 hours of losing their daughters – the Catronios, the Ferrantes and their friends made it their mission to honor the legacies of Marisa and Kaitlyn. Not only in their homes, but on interstates nationwide. “Our highways must be safer. So we got to work - starting with the Sawgrass Expressway,” said Gary.

In the winter of 2013, the Catronio family began researching how to block wrong way drivers from entering the road. It’s the mission of Marisa’s Way, a foundation created to prevent driving errors. “It starts with enhanced signage,” said Gary. “We investigated how to alert drivers before it’s too late. The problem is, with some entrances, you can’t see the wrong way warning. Sometimes the signs are too high, too far back, or too far apart – which means car headlights don’t hit them at the right angle – so they don’t illuminate.”

Finding a Solution:

In 2014, Marisa’s Way launched a pilot project using flashing LED wrong way signs.

“They’re not cheap and can cost up to $2,500,” said Gary. “But a representative of Traffic and Parking Control Products and Solutions (TAPCO) heard our story and sent us one. That generosity helped get the ball rolling.”

The enhanced LED blinking signs don’t rely on car headlights to illuminate. Instead, the high tech, low maintenance flashing bulbs help catch drivers’ attention and can trigger a 9-1-1 call to local authorities.

“In 2014, we took a 36 x 24 LED sign with us when we lobbied for this technology in Tallahassee,” said Gary. “The sign flashed as I addressed lawmakers on the steps of the state capitol. Shortly after that presentation, the state approved these signs for testing in South Florida. I recommended putting them on the Sawgrass Expressway first.” Next stop? The Florida Department of Transportation.

“Our team used a working sign to demonstrate this technology to FDOT,” said Gary. “When we gave the presentation one of the members said, ‘Gary - can you do me a favor? Could you shut that off? The LED is so bright, I can barely see!’”

That eye catching comment confirmed what Gary had wanted. “This vivid signage CAN get people’s attention,” he said.

SEEING the Impact:

One year after Marisa and Kaitlyn were killed, LED-Enhanced Wrong Way Blinker Signs are installed on the Sawgrass Expressway. According to Marisa’s Way, since then, 41 out of 42 cars turned around because the drivers realized they were going the wrong way. “Our mission is to save as many lives as possible, said Christine. “We do this for all people in honor of our angels Marisa and Kaitlyn. May they never be forgotten.”

Through the support of community members, organizations and companies like State Farm® – Marisa’s Way continues to educate people young and old about the importance of safe driving. “We speak from the heart,” said Christine. “We discuss the frequency of wrong way crashes, explain why you never drink and drive, and demonstrate how the safety sign technology is used on roads and highways.”

"We're not done yet," said Gary. “Our hope is to expand this program nationwide. With community support and awareness, Marisa’s Way will continue saving lives. If everyone makes safe driving decisions – the magnitude of this mission will multiply.”

In a recent State Farm survey, one in five respondents indicated they had consumed alcohol and drove a car in the last year. Further, 94% of consumers surveyed believe the drunk driving problem has not yet been solved.

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD), two out of three people will be affected by drunk driving in their lifetime. The U.S. economic toll for deaths and injuries from such crashes is $52 billion annually¹. These costs, combined with the costs of other crashes, impact consumers who pay insurance premiums.

State Farm is determined to address this issue through its long-time support of MADD. As the presenting sponsor of its Power of You(th)® program, State Farm is committed to helping teens and young adults understand the importance of staying safe and sober behind the wheel. The Power of You(th) program works to prevent underage drinking while educating teens to never ride with someone who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Together with MADD, State Farm is encouraging students to take a stand against drunk driving by sharing positive messages with their peers, engaging their high schools in the conversation and motivating students to inspire healthy behaviors within their communities.

Parents:  Want to talk to your teen about alcohol? Visit the Power of YOU(th) website for the downloadable booklet You have the POWER to take a stand. This online resource, with statistics and true stories, can foster positive conversations with your son or daughter about destructive driving and ways to stay safe behind the wheel. It’s also available in Spanish.

Help the fight against drunk driving with these tips:

• Choose a non-drinking designated driver if you will be consuming alcohol.
• Ask for a ride. There are many alternatives to help you get home safely.
• Be careful on the road. Pull over and report drivers you suspect to be under the influence by calling 911.
• Protect others by taking their keys if they attempt to drive after consuming alcohol. They may be mad at you, but the alternative could be much worse.

https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving¹

Hover over the interactive image below to learn how you can help prevent drunk driving.

Choosing to not drink and drive can be the difference between life and death.

Meet Olivia: The Little Girl with a Lesson to Remember. Never Drink and Drive.

“Just like that … she’s gone.”- Jodie Cleveland

The Clevelands are working hard to promote safe driving in memory of their daughter, Olivia. At the age of 3, Olivia was killed in a crash involving a drunk driver. Her father, John Cleveland, speaks to groups of all ages, encouraging them to:

• Make safe choices behind the wheel.
• Never be the person who causes a family to experience such pain and loss.
• Remember Olivia’s story when confronted with the decision to drink and drive.