SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) held a candlelight vigil on Thursday, to commemorate the lives of victims of impaired driving crashes.

Advocates from across the state spoke up, hopeful for change and an end to impaired driving -- for good.

Dawn Kruse recounted the story of the 2015 drunk driving crash that took the life of her 16-year-old daughter, Maddie. She explained that Maddie was in the car with her friend Rachel and Rachel's grandmother, when the car was struck by a drunk driver going over 100 MPH at 6:28 a.m.. 

"The detective gave us more disturbing news. He had a DUI record. He had five first-time offenses and was on probation for his sixth DUI offense. When he killed our Maddie and Rachel, that was his seventh." Kruse said.

Deb Beaupre told the audience about the crash that killed her 15-year-old daughter, Mia. She said that Mia was one of three passengers in a car driven by a high school student who was under the influence of alcohol.

"Out of the four [students] in the car, she was the only one killed after the car crashed. I got that crippling call in the middle of the night telling me -- by my son -- that Mia was dead." Beaupre said.

Both mothers are staunch advocates, telling their stories to teenagers, in hopes to prevent another tragedy. "I've made it my mission now to talk to high schoolers, teenagers about consequences of making bad decisions." Beaupre said.  

MADD provides free support services to victims and survivors of impaired driving through victim advocates and the 24-Hour Victim Help Line 1-877-MADD-HELP. For more information or to donate, visit their website.

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