Henrico County, Va. WRIC — On Tuesday, Sept. 10, a judge in Henrico County found the second and last person charged in a 2022 crash that killed Claire Wenzel not guilty of reckless driving.
Claire’s family was present in the courtroom and has been fighting for justice since the accident. They said the legal battle has been tough, but while this marks the end of the legal process, it’s only the beginning of their fight for change.
It’s comforting to know she’s not forgotten, and she never will be in our lives, Claire’s sister, Katie Wenzel, shared after the court session.
The crash that took Claire’s life happened nearly two years ago on Oct. 30, 2022, along Interstate 95 at 3 a.m. It involved seven cars and resulted in Claire’s death.
Claire’s mother, Donna Wenzel, recalled, “I drove past the crash three hours later on my way to work, not knowing it had taken my daughter’s life.”
The pain of losing Claire still weighs heavy on Katie and Donna. Hearing about Claire’s car and the accident brought me right back to that day, Katie said.
Though the driver in court was involved in the crash, he wasn’t the drunk driver found guilty of starting it. Claire’s family pushed for harsher charges against the drunk driver, but prosecutors moved forward with only a DUI charge. The driver was sentenced to 12 months, but due to Virginia’s legal system, served only a few months. This has driven the family’s mission for change.
We need to focus on changing laws so first-time drunk drivers spend more time in jail, Donna Wenzel said.
Outside the courthouse, Claire’s family reflected on her life. They said she was full of energy and had a great personality. She lit up a room, Katie said.
In 2023, 230 people died in alcohol-related crashes in Virginia. Claire’s family wants to raise awareness of how dangerous driving under the influence can be. In 2022, every 39 minutes, someone was killed by a drunk driver in the U.S., Donna shared. Claire was the designated driver the night she died, making her loss even more tragic.
Now, her family continues her legacy by advocating for change. She’d be happy knowing we’re keeping her memory alive and fighting for her, Katie said.
The family has gathered over 15,000 signatures on a petition for their cause and is working to hold people accountable and raise awareness about the criminal justice system in Virginia.
If you want to connect with Donna to support the fight against drunk driving, you can find more information on their Facebook page.
We know she was loved by everyone who met her, and she left a part of herself in them, Donna said.