MADD candlelight vigil shines light on DUI deaths

TAMPA (FOX 13) - Deputies in Hillsborough County say they arrested a woman whose blood alcohol content was five times the legal .08 limit. 

Deputies said Mary Zoccoli blew a .38 after a minor crash in Brandon Wednesday evening, and added this was not her first arrested for driving under the influence. Her record shows an arrest back in July, as well.  

Meanwhile, the Hillsborough County Chapter of MADD - Mothers Against Drunk Driving - gathered for the group's 33rd annual candle light vigil, honoring and remembering those lives lost to crashes resulting from driving under the influence.

“She should’ve been comatose, honestly. At four [times the legal limit], you're either dead or comatose,” said Linda Unfried, head of the Hillsborough County Chapter of MADD.

Fortunately, no one was hurt in the crash involving Zoccoli Wednesday, but too often, that's not the case. 

“In Hillsborough County right now, impaired driving is out of control. We're now number one in the state of Florida for DUI fatalities and injuries,” Unfried said.

Jen Rosain is, unfortunately, part of that statistic. Her mother and MADD member, Tammy Rosian said Jen was hit head-on by a drunk driver the day before her Jen's 25th birthday, back in 2008.  

“You go through so much and it doesn’t stop. This is eight years later and I’m still dealing with things that happened,” said Tammy Rosian. “It’s not worth it for the people that you hurt or yourself.” 

Her daughter Summer was in the car, as well. She suffered serious injuries, from head-to-toe.

“I just want to be there for all the people who lost a loved one,” Summer said.

The message couldn’t be simpler.

“Don’t drink and drive - very simple,” said Unfried.