Our beautiful 21-year-old daughter, an honor student at the University of Texas at Austin, had hopes and dreams for a promising future, which had a nightmarish ending on Oct. 26, 1985. An innocent victim, Christi was killed by a hit-and-run drunken driver. While walking with friends in downtown Austin, she and her roommate, Jenny, were struck by a car whose driver left the scene. Christi was pinned under his vehicle and dragged over 800 feet. She died an hour later. The driver was later arrested and admitted to having 11 or 12 beers and “a couple of shots” before getting behind the wheel. He was found to have been traveling at a speed of 60 mph in a downtown area.

As proud parents, we look back on the joy that Christi brought to us, her younger brother, Sean, and to all those she touched in her 20 short years. We reminisce about the 27 badges she earned as a Girl Scout, how we cheered her during her days as a cheerleader, and how it felt as we shared her happiness the day she was elected Homecoming Queen. Her long hours of studying paid off the day she graduated cum laude. A new life was emerging for her, but there will never be a college graduation, no career, no marriage, and no children. Memories are all that we have now. We will carry her love in our hearts forever.

-- Don and Sue Cox

Christi Lanahan's parents have helped hundreds of people through the work of the organization they founded to honor their daughter. Click here to visit the site of For the Love of Christi.

Click here for the site of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.