ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. — A mom on a mission.
Destiny Klimaszweski's baby and husband were killed by a drunk driver in Lincoln County a decade ago.
The Missouri mom was the sole survivor of the crash in Lincoln County.
She persevered to make change and launched a campaign on the 10-year anniversary this week.
"It was something that instantly pulled my world into a before and after and nothing was ever the same," Klimaszweski said.
Split in two, her world was divided by a drunk driver.
Klimaszweski always knew herself as one with her high school sweetheart Corey. The two met their sophomore year in Warren County.
"Everything we did into young adulthood was together, so we were always known as Destiny and Corey and not just as Destiny," she added. "We got married two days after I turned 18. It’s one of things, when you know, you know. We just knew we’d be together forever."
The two had their first born two years later.
"I had Parker when I was 20 and he became everything to us," Klimaszweski told 5 On Your Side.
Everything was ripped from her in 2014.
"When my husband came home from work, we had an appointment to go to, we never made it to that appointment. A drunk driver hitting us around dinner time, September 20th, 2014. She was a repeat offender. She took the life of my 15-month-old baby and 24 hours later, I lost my husband as well," she shared.
They were hit nearly head-on at 87-miles mph on Highway 47.
A year after the crash, she made a Facebook post, which went viral.
The post has about 40,000 likes and more than 60,000 shares. It shared a message to stop drinking and driving.
Since the crash, she's found love again and has re-married. Klimaszweski has two children. They now live in St. Charles County.
"I often wonder who he (Parker) would be and all those milestones we missed out on, but I'd like to think they are both looking down on me and they're very proud," she added.
Proud of the work she's pouring into.
For the 10-year anniversary this week, Klimaszweski launched a campaign and a nonprofit called "Beyond the Headlights: The Cost of Drunk Driving".
The campaign and nonprofit focuses on a documentary, which shares the real life effects of drinking and driving. It's being done through Get Attention STL, a video production service in St. Charles County. Get Attention STL offered to do the film.
The goal is to highlight other voices impacted by drinking and drinking, as well.
"I know I can't bring them back but I know I can protect others around me," she said. "My mission now is to create something that, if it were in place 10 years ago, it could’ve kept them safe and it’s going to keep my family and your family safe too."
A trailer dropped on the actual anniversary and a documentary is soon to come in November.
She added, "We’re wanting the most eyes as possible. We’re projected that four to 14 million in Missouri alone can view the documentary and we see it only growing on as well."
Klimaszweski believes the documentary is just the beginning.
She's also pushing to change laws.
Klimaszweski believes many times, people get a slap on the wrist.
"We want it to be a harsher punishment on a first time offender, so maybe they’ll think twice about doing it again because a lot of our stories come from repeat offenders," she explained.
She added she's not against drinking. Klimaszweski is adamantly against drinking and driving.
The release of the campaign happened days before St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Officer David Lee was killed by a suspected drunk driver.
It also comes as NHL player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed by an alleged drunk driver in New Jersey at the end of August.
"The time has to happen now. I don’t want anyone else to lose their life from something that’s 110% preventable," she pointed out. "Every 78 seconds somebody is injured or killed because of a drunk driver."
As she continues to push forward in her mission, she remembers the difficult days that led her here.
"Back in 2014, I didn’t see myself making it another second or another day, much less 10 years. Looking back, looking at myself now, I’m so proud of the person I was then and how far I’ve come," Klimaszweski shared. "Because it was a choice every single day to make it to another day. I lost everything that gave me a reason and a purpose to wake up in the morning and back then I didn't think I had the strength and courage to see another tomorrow, much less fight to bring a change. But now that's my life mission and my purpose."
Now, Klimaszweski encourages everyone to do their part.
"We need your help to make more and more people see this," she added.
All of the money donated to the nonprofit will go to advertising the documentary.
She's also partnered with Krey Distributing Company with Anheuser-Busch to bring the video to high schools and they're offering a $10,000 match.
If you'd like to reach out to share your experience or donate to the cause, click here.