North Dakota road traffic victims remembered for being more than just a statistic

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – Imaginative and prescient Zero held an occasion to commemorate those that misplaced family members in site visitors fatalities. The World Day of Remembrance honors and memorializes those that have died.

On the State Capitol, chairs remained empty to honor those that have handed. One of many vacant seats represented Taylor Mehlhoff, who was killed by a drunk driver. She was honored by her members of the family.

“My daughter and her buddy have been each promising younger women and had shiny futures, and their lives have been snuffed out immediately. It’s simply heartbreaking, and I wouldn’t want that on anyone,” stated Miles Mehlhoff.

They attend occasions like this one to assist unfold the message to others of what the results of driving will be.

“Perhaps different individuals will give it some thought earlier than they exit and drive. They drive distracted or impaired, and it’s horrible that occasions like this must occur, however perhaps individuals will suppose twice about it,” stated Hayden Mehlhoff.

Imaginative and prescient Zero hopes that folks acknowledge the statistics they launch every year to be internalized as extra than simply numbers.

“I believe for individuals right here right now, it simply helps put a reputation to these numbers. We put numbers out continuously on what number of fatalities we’ve had. This places names to them. It places households to them. It makes them extra actual,” stated Lauren Wahlman, North Dakota Division of Transportation.

With occasions like this, attendees hope to instill the message of being extra cautious on the roads.

“Don’t do it as a result of it impacts extra individuals than simply the individual that you kill. It impacts their whole households, and we’ve got to dwell with that endlessly,” stated Hayden Mehlhoff.

This was the second yr the worldwide occasion, The World Day of Remembrance, was held in particular person in North Dakota.

To honor the 97 lives misplaced on North Dakota roads this yr, observers had a second of silence for 97 seconds to characterize these misplaced.

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