DUI Checkpoint In Garden Grove Is Dedicated To Young Woman Killed By Drunken Driver In 1994
GARDEN GROVE (CBSLA.com) — Garden Grove police are on the hunt for DUI drivers on Friday night.
At one DUI checkpoint, their activity is dedicated to the memory of a young woman killed by a drunken driver more than 20 years ago.
KCAL9's Stacey Butler said Haze Saliture never thought this would be how she spent a Friday night.
The Garden Grove woman hands out fliers warning about the dangers of drunk drivers. She does this with her husband.
They lost their daughter to a drunk driver.
"I try to keep her memory alive," says Haze. "There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about her."
She's been handing out the fliers for 11 years in a row. With the act, she's hoping to make an impact.
Her daughter Allison Saliture -- a twin -- was driving March 26, 1994, when she was hit by a woman who had reportedly downed 15 beers at a bar.
Saliture died a few days later.
"I miss her so much," says Haze. "We lost a part of our family. Our family will never be the same, because someone made the wrong decision to drink and drive."
She says that she is on something of a mission.
"My hope is that we make a difference, that we save somebody's life," says Haze.
Her husband John, Allison's father, is also hoping to make an impact.
"People know (the police) are there," said John, "and they're going to think twice about drinking and driving."
At the checkpoint, she shared her personal story with one driver who was taken into custody.
"I told him the reason I was out here is because I lost my daughter to a drunk driver, and he looked at me and said he was sorry," said Haze. "I'm really sorry. Then he looked at the officer and said thank you for getting me off the street before I killed somebody or hurt somebody. Then he looked at me again and said I'm so sorry."
Saliture said that over the past decade, she is encouraged to see more designated driver and fewer drunken drivers.
Police will remain at the checkpoint until 3 a.m.