ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — This Labor Day weekend, local law enforcement agencies are urging everyone to plan for a safe and responsible holiday. This comes less than 48 hours after a deadly crash in St. Louis County.
This weekend, a St. Louis family is mourning the loss of Latricia Robinson, killed early Friday morning in a wrong-way crash by a suspected driver investigators said was under the influence.
The crash happened around 2 a.m. Friday on westbound I-70 near Jennings Station Road.
Latricia was on her way to work at the Coca-Cola plant in St. Charles County. Not long after, Latricia's aunt, Rose Robinson, had her world turned upside down.
"iPhones have this new thing where they send out an SOS," Rose told 5 On Your Side. "I got the call; she's been in an accident. It shares your exact location. Try to call; there's no answer."
Missouri State Highway Patrol said a woman was driving the wrong way when her Chevrolet crashed into the driver's side of Latricia's car.
The 32-year-old mother of three died at the scene.
Investigators said the other driver, a 27-year-old woman from Madison, IL suffered serious injuries and was arrested for DWI but hasn't been charged.
"I want her prosecuted to the fullest for taking my baby's life because I don't have my baby anymore," Latricia's mom, Patricia Robinson, said.
Latricia had a 12-year-old son and two daughters, ages 15 and eight.
National ambassador for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Sheila Lockwood, lost her son six years ago.
This McHenry, IL, single mom hugged her 23-year-old son Austin Lockwood on June 8, 2018. Sheila told her son she loved him and "to be safe" like so many mothers do, while he helped a friend clean up a Wisconsin cabin for the summer.
"The next thing I know, on June 10 on Sunday morning, two police officers came to my house at about 5:00 a.m. to tell me Austin wasn't coming home," Sheila said. "He had been killed by a drunk driver on Sunday morning around 1 a.m."
Missouri State Highway Patrol said last Labor Day weekend, one person was killed or injured on the roads every 9.5 minutes statewide.
Sheila has been giving advice to the Robinson family as they grapple with such a severe loss.
"It doesn't change," Sheila said. "It's a horrible reality. Give yourself some grace, and just take it one day. That's all you can do. That's all I still do. If I can just get through today."
Missouri Highway Patrol said a total of 12 drivers have already been arrested for DWI in the St. Louis area this weekend.
The public is encouraged to call the Patrol's Emergency Report Line (800) 525-5555 or *55 on their cellular phone if they witness criminal activity or experience an emergency. These emergency numbers are operational for both highway and water emergencies.
The Missouri Highway Patrol advised: "If your celebration includes alcohol, designate someone else to drive whether you are in your boat or your car. Please don't become a statistic."