Drunk driving victim sends unexpected gift

Moorhead, Minn. (WDAY TV) - Area law enforcement plan an aggressive crackdown on drinking and driving during the next several days. Today, they brought in a local family devastated by one man's decision to drink and drive.

Just off Interstate 94 in Moorhead, police and deputies from the surrounding area joined together in honor of the Deutscher family.

Aaron Deutscher, his wife Allison, and their 18-month-old daughter, Brielle, died when their car was hit by a drunk driver driving the wrong way. That happened on I-94, near Jamestown on July 6th.

Today, Alison's family talked about the loss, as law enforcement announced the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Campaign. The project is dedicated to the family.

Sgt. Jesse Grabow, MN Highway Patrol: “It is not a goal about how many people we can arrest but it's a goal to provide people with information, DUI prevention, to make the smart choice before you get in the vehicle and drive. It's about planning ahead and being prepared and doing the right thing because not only can DUI affect you but the lives of other people.”

The North Dakota Highway Patrol says since 2008, 275 people have died because of alcohol related crashes.

The family of Allison Deutscher hopes the tragedy that took the lives of their loved ones, will lead to new, stricter laws in our state.

They hope their appearance at today's news conference will put a face to the problem of drinking and driving.

WDAY 6 Reporter Kevin Wallevand sat down the family today as they shared the heart breaking story of what has been lost.

That terrible July accident jolted state troopers, family and friends of the Deutschers. While they are all trying to move on, there are daily reminders keep the tragedy fresh.

We hear from Lynn Mickelson that as his family made funeral plans for daughter Allison, her husband Aaron and their 18-month-old daughter Brielle, came a UPS package to the Mickelson farm.

Lynn Erickson, Alison’s dad: “It just tore us up because here was a note inside it from Allison.”

It was an anniversary present for Lynn and his wife, ordered by Allison just days before the crash. It was a baby book of Brielle's life.

Precious, now a keepsake.

The family also found a camera in the wreckage of the family's car. After the funeral, the Mickelsons processed the pictures; four of them, including one that is heart wrenching for this father and grandfather to talk about. Allison was due to have another baby in December.

Erickson: “That's a picture of Brielle looking at her mom feeling the new baby. I have a tough time talking about it because it's such a current picture, happiness that Brielle would have been a happy big sister.”

Both families involved have photos and memories of their loved ones. But the loss is overwhelming. The Mickelsons hope the devastating story of what was taken from them, hits home with someone to change something.

Festus Mickelson, Allison’s brother: “I can pretty much guarantee if a lawmaker's family was wiped out due to this, the laws would be changed.”

Sarah Johnson, Allison’s sister: “People don't think about killing other people and affecting thousands of lives, and that's what this has happened to our family. It has affected thousands of lives.”

AAA is working with the family to use the car from that tragedy as an educational tool in working with high school students.

Tags: kevin wallevand, news, transportation, family, reporters, updates