NAPLES, Fla. -- A father and husband was remembered, Saturday, a year after an allegedly drunk driver killed him in a crash.
Cecil Riner's four young children cried at a gathering remembering their father. Their mother hugged her youngest, consoling him. "My four kids now have no father and I lost my husband at 33 years old because someone made a foolish decision," said wife Jessica Riner.
Friends and family gathered at the site of the crash, that happened on December 12, 2015. Riner's life was cut short after alleged drunk driver Rene Miles caused a wreck, flipping over Riner's minivan, killing him and injuring his wife. Loved ones showed support by waving signs to bring awareness to the devastating effects of drunk driving. One sign read, "U should be here," displaying pictures of the boys growing up without their father. "Christmas of course is hard, I'm not in the spirit at all. It use to be my favorite holiday, but now I cringe when I see anything because Cecil's not here," said Riner.
Lori Burke, a representative from Mother Against Drunk Driving, tells Fox 4 that during holiday season, the number of crashes caused by drunk driving skyrockets in Southwest Florida. She said the problem has gotten worse over time. "Between 2014 and 2015 alone, the fatalities in Florida rose by 15 percent due to alcohol confirmed fatalities."
She encourages people to make planning a ride home part of their routine when they're thinking about drinking. "What are we wearing, where are we going to go and how will we get home when our plans include alcohol," said Burke.
The plan could help another family and ensure another father wont have to miss Christmas with his kids. "Please don't drink and drive," said Riner. "There's no excuse for it."
