LAKE TRAVIS, Texas – Jacqui Saburido, who was severely burned in a 1999 drunken driving crash in Central Texas and later became the face of anti-drunken driving campaigns, has died, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission confirmed Monday.
- Woman severely burned in drunken driving crash
- Became face of anti-drunken driving campaigns
- Passed away at 40
Saburido, who was from Venezuela, was taking a break from college and studying English in the Austin area.
Just past 4 a.m. on Sunday, September 19, 1999, Saburido was a passenger in a vehicle with four other people. They were returning from a party near Lake Travis when the vehicle was struck by a car.
Driver Reggie Stephy, 18 at the time, was headed home when he drifted across the center median and struck the other vehicle head on. Two women died at the scene.
Saburido suffered third-degree burns to over 60 percent of her body when the car caught fire. The fire burned her eyes, melted her hair off, consumed her ears, lips, nose and eyelids. She was unable to use her hands.
Reggie was convicted of two counts of intoxication manslaughter and served seven years in prison. He was released in 2008.
Saburido later became a crusader, frequently speaking on the dangers of drinking and driving. She twice appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
She was 40 years old.