Oklahoma Family Speaks Out About Impaired Driving Ahead Of New Year's Eve

As New Year’s Eve approaches, many Oklahomans are preparing for celebrations that often will include alcohol.

For one family, this time of year brings painful memories, after losing their 19-year-old daughter Marissa in a DUI crash.

“It’s the driving that's the issue, not what they want to do as an adult,” said Kristy Murrow, Marissa’s mother. “We know there are going to be people that make a horrific choice and there are going to be innocent families like ours that are going to pay the price for that. Make the right choice before you go out.”

Jeff and Kristy Murrow are sharing their story to send this important message about impaired driving. They say Malcolm Penney, the driver who killed Marissa, was a four-time repeat DUI offender, who had just left a wedding when he decided to drive under the influence.

“You can't get over a death like this. Every birthday, every Christmas, every holiday, there’s no way you can get over it,” said Jeff Murrow, Marissa’s father. “The price for DUI is way too high, we are here to tell you, we've been paying it for four years.”

It's a price the Morrows don't want another family to pay. Following Marissa's death, the couple created VOID, Victims of Impaired Drivers. The group supports other families and helps them navigate the legal system.

Related: 6 Things OKC Police Want You To Know To Stay Safe This New Year's Eve

“You can have all the outrage in the world, and it doesn't matter because that person's not coming back,” Kristy said. “There's no making it right and the intention doesn't matter at all. The fact that someone chose to drive impaired even though they didn't intend to kill Marissa, that's the outcome and that outcome can't be changed.

The Murrows say in Oklahoma, about 500 people die each year in DUI crashes, which include both alcohol and drug impairment.

“We want to encourage everyone to leave your car at home and make the decision before you go out of how you're going to get home,” Jeff said.

Because the next death could be your family member.

“She had her whole life ahead of her, a lot of goals and dreams and for us there was nothing left to do but try to create a legacy that she's no longer here to create for herself,” Kristy said.

Through VOID, the family is working on new bills to introduce this legislative session to promote change in DUI laws and stop repeat offenders. For more information on VOID, click here: https://www.voidok.org/