TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL)- Every St. Patrick's Day for the last six years, a Tallahassee family has invited the community to a gathering at Lake Ella in remembrance of their loved ones killed in a tragic accident.
For most families, St. Patrick's day is a day full of fun. That's not the case for Dianne Daniels and her family.
"We want to make sure that our loved one's are not forgotten; that people will remember the fact that St. Patrick's Day is a holiday mainly for drinking and having a good time," said Daniels. "But for us, it's a day of sadness."
Daniels' daughter, son-in-law, grandson, and her grandson's best friend were enjoying the start of spring break March 17, 2012 when tragedy struck.
"They had went out to dinner and they were on their way back from dinner and they were right here at the intersection of Tennessee and Monroe Street just waiting on the light to change," said Daniels. "At that time, a young man on the drug Spice was driving down Monroe Street and he passed through every traffic light. He didn't stop. And he hit my daughter's family's car in the back. He sent them across the street to Monroe Street and they were killed instantly."
Only Daniels' son-in-law survived.
Christopher Generoso, the driver of the car that crashed into the family's jeep, was sentenced to 22 years behind bars and another 10 years of probation.
The family was devastated, but regained strength through honoring the lives lost.
"This year is really special for us because my grandson would've been 16 years old. We're having the banquet on his birthday to celebrate his 16th birthday," said Daniels. "It's kind of ironic, he would've been at the age where he could drive. It's going to be hard for us but it'll be alright. We're going to make it."
And by educating others and partnering with Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
"These are the things that help me to get over it. To feel like I'm doing something positive, because they can't come back," said Daniels. "I'm trying to be the voice for the family to make sure other families don't go through what we've had to go through."
And through it all, Daniels just wants everyone to remember this.
"One decision caused this domino effect. It caused so much hurt and pain," said Daniels. "So my thing is, I want everyone to think before they get behind the wheel of a car because you have no idea the pain that you could cause."
The family will host their annual St. Patrick's Day vigil Saturday.
They invite anyone from the community to meet at Lake Ella at 5:30 p.m., then walk with them to the corner of Tennessee and Monroe, where the accident took place.
