WALLA WALLA—“Emily Anne McClenny had not set the world on fire with accomplishments at the young age of 7 1/2 years old, but she had worked her way into the hearts of many with her infectious smile,” wrote Nancy McClenny-Walters on what should have been her daughter’s 40th birthday. “While her life ended at 7 1/2, her story did not.”

For the past 32 years, McClenny-Walters has put Christmas decorations up on her daughter’s birthday, pausing for a moment from advocating against impaired driving and remembering her funny, loving little seven-year-old girl.

It was a hot July day in 1988 when the McClenny family, Frank, Nancy, ten-year-old Jennifer, seven-year-old Emily, and a young cousin drove home from a day in the Tri-Cities. Their station wagon was struck, head-on, by a drunk driver less than fifteen miles from home. Frank was trapped in the car and died at the scene of the accident of smoke inhalation. Emily and her cousin were unconscious and were pulled from the vehicle.

“I remember thinking that Emily was just unconscious,” McClenny-Walters said. “Like the rest of us, once we had some care from doctors and nurses, that she was going to be okay. That wasn’t going to happen. She had very severe internal head injuries and passed away the next morning.”

Emily, born December 1, 1980, was the McClenny family’s ‘Christmas present,’ after being born prematurely, weighing less than five pounds at birth. According to her mother, she was your typical little kid- fun, happy-go-lucky, loved school, loved her teachers and her friends, and was very social.

“One of my favorite memories was seeing her come down the stairs in the morning, and she would come snuggle up with me, still sleepy. It makes me sad that we weren’t able to see what she would have accomplished,” McClenny-Walters said. “We don’t get to see who she would have been.”

Sharing Emily and Frank’s story has been a part of the healing process for McClenny-Walters. It has been a way of keeping their memories alive and preventing them from becoming just another statistic.

“We had dreams of what we wanted to do after our retirement, but Frank wasn’t able to go there,” McClenny-Walters said, explaining that she and her late husband were high school sweethearts who married after college.

“I know people who drive while impaired are not thinking of the other side of the story, ‘what happens if I get in a collision?’ They don’t go out thinking, ‘I’m going to go out and drive impaired and kill someone.’ They just want to go have a good time, but they need to plan ahead,” said McClenny-Walters.

Last year alone, there were 10,511 fatalities and more than 300,000 injuries resulting from drunk driving. In 2018, 285 deaths occurred during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. On New Year’s Eve, chances of getting in a wreck with an impaired driver jump up 232 percent from other days.

This holiday season, drivers are being urged to make a plan before they drive. And to think about people like Emily Anne McClenny, and her father, Frank McClenny, and their family.

“Driving under the influence is something that we can stop,” she said. “It is one of those things that are 100 percent preventable. I’ve never said, ‘please don’t drink.’ I’ve always said, ‘please don’t drink and drive. I just want people to make a plan. Figure out how you’re going to get home. We know that when you start drinking, your reasoning sometimes goes out the door. Figure out who you are going to call or if you’re going to stay the night. Are you going to have someone with you who is going to be the designated driver? It’s really that simple.”

Nancy McClenny-Walters has served as the Region 17 Target Zero Manager (TZM) for the Washington Traffic Safety Commission for the past twenty years. Through her work as a TZM, she has helped develop several area programs, including the Walla Walla DUI Victim Impact Panel, Tipsy Taxi, Every 15 Minutes, Buckle Up Helper, Bikes on the Road, memorial signs programs, and a pedestrian flag program. She is also a nationally-certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) and was one of the statewide DUI memorial sign program’s original co-sponsors.

Don’t Drive Intoxicated! Tips from AAA

• Always plan ahead to designate a non-drinking driver before any party or celebration begins.

• Never get behind the wheel of a car when you’ve been drinking alcohol – even after just one drink.

• Never ride as a passenger in a car driven by someone who has been drinking alcohol – even after just one drink.

• Do not hesitate to take the keys from friends or family members who may be impaired.

• Put numbers for local cab/ride-sharing companies in your phone before heading out for the evening. Walla Walla County has Uber and Lyft rideshare services available.

• Be a responsible host in reminding guests to stay safe and always offer alcohol-free beverages.

• If you encounter an impaired driver on the road, keep a safe distance and ask a passenger to call 911 (or pull over to a safe location to make the call yourself).

• Remember: prescription, over-the-counter medications, and illegal drugs also can impair your ability to drive safely