Law enforcement agencies kick off campaign to stop impaired driving

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Tuesday served as a stark reminder to not drive under the influence this holiday season, or at all. Multiple law enforcement agencies came together on Tuesday morning to kick off their annual tree of life campaign to bring awareness to impaired driving and the lives lost from it.

"You can make a choice in driving under the influence no matter alcohol, marijuana, I know those are issues with that, illicit drugs, people continue to get behind the wheel and drive,” Starla Smith said. “It's tragic for families that have to go through that."

Take it from Smith. She’s a victim of that type of tragedy. The picture in this story is the last one she took of her son Thomas. It was 25 minutes before he drove about a block away and was killed by an impaired driver back in 2022. It’s the picture she had to show officers at the scene to identify him. She also took a picture of the crash scene just a couple hours later.

"This is my baby, in this bag,” she said holding back tears and showing everyone the crime scene photo. "25 minutes would alter Thomas's life forever. It would change my life. It would change his children's life."

Smith was one of several speakers at the tree of life ceremony to remind everyone to not drive under the influence. Each person under the tree inside the west side of Penn Square Mall represents one of the 146 lives lost at the hands of impaired drivers in Oklahoma County since 2020.

"I ask you don't be the reason that a present is added to this tree next year,” Lisa Jorgenson with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said.

"Impaired driving doesn't just take lives. It shatters families, communities and futures,” Assistant Director and General Counsel for the ABLE Commission Lori Carter said.

Smith’s first and only son would have turned 39 on Wednesday. She said speaking publicly about her families tragedy, even a day before his birthday, is a must.

"These lives were lost tragically. So, I need to be the voice for him. I owe him that much,” she said.

The state secretary of public safety also read a proclamation from Gov. Kevin Stitt declaring Dec. 2024 impaired driving prevention month.