Sep 22, 2024
BAKERSFIELD ,Calif. (KGET) -- At the Walk Like MADD Dash, survivors of impaired driving incidents are at the top of mind. More than 11 DUI arrests are made in Kern County each day, that equals about 4,000 every year. It can take up to 80 instances of impaired driving before an offender is finally arrested for the first time. Sometimes, it's too late. "That day, we were having fun with family, the kids were running around playing, hanging out, and it was time to go home," said Lorraine Duran, who on January 21, 2018, had a night as normal as any other. Until she, her child's father, and 21-month old Liliana began to make their way home, at the same time a man stumbled his way to his car from the bar. "He was traveling 119 miles per hour, no brakes," said Duran. "Ultimately we came in his pathway." The worst nightmare for a parent became Duran's reality. They had planned an Elmo-themed second birthday party for Liliana. A party she didn't make it to see. "As soon as we got to the hospital, there were people in and out of her room, trying to do everything they could do to help save her," said a tearful Duran. "But ultimately they couldn't." Tragedies like Duran's were commonplace at the Park at River Walk Saturday, including a similar story from Jessica Magee. "My friends and I were on our way home from a baseball game," said Magee. "We were hit by a driver under the influence of drugs and alcohol. I lost both my friends that day and I was the only survivor." Scores: Week 5 of the 2024 high school football season Stories like these are why they run.They run for those who can't anymore. Whether it's from loss of limbs, or loss of life.Jorge Barrientos helped organize the 11th annual event in Bakersfield."This is an opportunity to bring victims of DUI crashes together," said Barrientos. "To raise awareness of the damage that DUI driving and crashes can cause to our community and to raise funds for the local chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving." Duran said she hadn't done a booth in a few years, but she did one in honor of Lily today with the hashtag, Madd4Lily. Her booth featured a coloring corner where kids, maybe Lily's age, can draw. All this, plus support from Mothers Against Drunk Driving may never be enough to stitch her wounds. But it's a start. "She would be some of these kids' age, she would be eight, " said Duran. "Wanting to do things, coming to events like this, and I wanted to have stuff for the kids to have as well." Proceeds of the Walk Like MADD Dash will go help fund school programs against impaired driving, fund DUI checkpoints and support the families of victims.
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