Families Brought Together by Tragedy Fight for Tougher DUI Laws

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Families Brought Together by Tragedy Fight for Tougher DUI Laws

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By Donnell Preskey, Assistant News Director - email

Bismarck, ND -

Two separate drunk driving crashes this summer destroyed two families.

They happened within two days of each other, 200 miles apart.

Today, their pain and suffering brings them together for the first time.

It's a hug between two dads who share the same pain.

Juan Ruiz and Lynn Mickelson's kids were killed by drunk drivers.

"Juan put his hand out. I said a handshake not going to cut it. I gave him a hug," says Mickelson.

The crashes happened within days of each other, but the men have not met until today.

Sandy Ruiz says, "I can feel what he's feeling, I can understand what he's feeling."

"I felt an immediate bond, they are special family. We have lost a lot together. We felt an immediate bond," says Mickelson.

Mickelson's pregnant daughter, her husband and their daughter were killed by a drunk driver going the wrong way on I-94 in July.

Their vehicle sits outside the capitol.

"So senseless, Brielle's car seat in the back, it hurts. It hurts to look at. They didn't have a chance from the way it looks," says Mickelson.

It's his hope this sight will get lawmakers to approve stricter DUI laws.

Juan Ruiz says, "we aren't the only ones and we're not going to be the only ones."

Juan and Sandy Ruiz's story is another one of heartache.

Their sons Cyris and Alaries were killed after a drunk driver crashed into their tent at Lake Metigoshi.

Juan Ruiz says, "I was asleep, woke up and was under truck pulling boys out."

Separately their stories are each horrifying, together, the families think they have the best shot at getting lawmakers to act.

Ruiz says, "I would like to see something come good out of this. What are we going to wait for? Another family to be taken out by a drunk driver? The time is now."

"It's time to do something, we gotta do something," says Mickelson.

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