Parents mourn 18-year-old daughter killed in suspected DUI crash: 'Broken forever'
Family mourns teen killed on graduation night
FOX 13’s Jennifer Kveglis spoke with the family of Zoey Fisher, an 18-year-old who died in a suspected DUI crash on her graduation night last June.
NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. - A Pasco County family is warning against underage drinking parties after their 18-year-old daughter was killed in a suspected DUI crash on her graduation night last June.
Death of Zoey Fisher
The backstory:
Zoey Fisher was ready to take on the world when she graduated on June 3, 2024, from River Ridge High School.
"Definitely my proudest daddy moment. She was so excited. She was so proud," Zoey's dad, Bobby Fisher, said.
Zoey Fisher died at age 18 last June in a suspected DUI crash just hours after her high school graduation ceremony. (Courtesy: The Fisher family.)
Zoey was set to attend Tallahassee State College as a steppingstone to FSU that Fall and study criminal psychology.
"She was just one of the best people I've ever met in my life, that I ever will meet. Just so goodhearted.," Bobby said.
Those big plans came to a halt that night when Zoey's life was cut short. Her parents said Zoey attended two parties with underage drinking and promised to take an Uber home. Around 10:00 that night, her parents got a call that Zoey was in a crash in Hernando County.
Zoey Fisher died at age 18 last June in a suspected DUI crash just hours after her high school graduation ceremony.
"I had a fairly good idea of the outcome because they were bringing her to Bayonet Trauma Center, passing two other hospitals," Bobby said.
When the family arrived, they heard a statement every parent fears.
"The doctors came in and told us what we didn't want to hear: that they had done all that they could," Christy Fisher said.
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Zoey was the only passenger of five that was killed. Christy and Bobby said the driver, a minor at the time, is accused of drinking before getting behind the wheel.
"A parent should never lose their child. It changes your life. It changes the way you think. The way you do every little ordinary daily task," Christy said.
A stranger put up a memorial at the crash site for Zoey.
Zoey Fisher died at age 18 last June in a suspected DUI crash just hours after her high school graduation ceremony. (Courtesy: The Fisher family.)
Family fights for justice
What they're saying:
Since then, Bobby and Christy have worked tirelessly to bring Zoey justice.
"We have nine civil wrongful death suits to hold people responsible," Bobby said. "There were many people that day that could have prevented Zoey's death."
The driver, who is now an adult, was finally taken into custody in late January. Still, the family said their work is far from done. They've joined Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and plan to attend the 2025 Walk Like MADD event on March 28 to honor Zoey. For more information, click here.
Zoey Fisher died at age 18 last June in a suspected DUI crash just hours after her high school graduation ceremony.
The family hopes other parents will reconsider throwing underage drinking parties this graduation season.
"Our family has already been torn up," Bobby said. "Our family has been broken forever. Don't break another family."
The Source: Information for this story was collected by FOX 13's Jennifer Kveglis.
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