"That middle of the night startling phone call that every parent dreams about and worst nightmare...you fear it," recalls Kandi Sargent-Lowe as she talks about the night her life changed forever.
It's the night her 20-year-old daughter Janakae, who was acting as the designated driver for friends at the time, was hit by a drunk driver and later killed.
"I just always thought you know she was being the good one, so she was okay," Kandi said.
Two years after Janakae's death, Kandi paid for a TxDot road sign in her memory to remind others how their decisions can turn tragic. More than 100 similar road signs were erected across the state to honor individuals at the site where they were killed.
Then, weeks ago Kandi receives a letter in the mail.
"At this time TxDot is preparing to remove your memorial sign and other memorial signs across the state," she reads.
Kandi says she was shocked, and upset. And TxDot says the situation is a decision by the state legislature, completely out of their hands.
"We've left the signs up for over four years now and the program started with a one year time period," said Transportation Operations Director Larry Colclasure.
In response, Kandi starts a petition.
"Because it's our loved one's voices," she explains.
She received nearly 1,500 signatures in less than two weeks and caught the eye of more than one state representative.
Rep. Tom Craddick says he expects to discuss the signs in the next legislative session. And Rep. Sid Miller responded that he plans to have his team look into the situation.
Until then, TxDot will give the signs to the families.
"We're making arrangements for them to get their signs back," Colclasure said.
And Kandi says she'll remain a champion for sober driving and fight for her daughter's sign to remain standing.
"I won't stop until there's no longer a need or until I draw my last breath," she said.
Creating a real-life reminder of what's at stake when we get behind the wheel.
Reporter: Rebecca Schleicher/Photographer: Thuan Nguyen/Editor: Aaron Purcella
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