AMHERST, Ohio — While the holidays are a time for people to get together with family and friends, it can be difficult for some.
In September 2022, Belinda and David Walker lost their son, David "Ryan" Walker II, in a drunk driving crash.
Since then, they say they've been trying to educate and spread Ryan's story to prevent more deaths.
"He spoke to me and he spoke to his father, but it was to tell him, 'sweetheart, as always be careful, I love you,'" Belinda said.
Ryan was driving back to BGSU with friends after a Cleveland Guardians game when the vehicle he was a passenger in and multiple others were struck by a drunk driver, who was intoxicated by two-and-a-half times over the legal limit, according to police. Ryan died from his injuries.
His mom tried calling him on his way back, but he didn't pick up.
"When I called him and he didn't respond, I just thought that was a little strange, but I'll give him a minute. He'll call me right back because that's what he would do," Belinda said.
That call back never came.
"Even with all that, I was holding on to hope that let my son be okay, let my son be okay," Belinda said, "He didn't make it, he didn't make it. He went on home."
The driver, James Baker Jr., was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide, and two counts of operating a vehicle under the influence. According to court records, he was a repeat offender.
It's an issue Belinda says has existed for years without legal change.
"Why haven't we really looked at the issue? Why haven't we looked at the problem?" she said. I know they've done improvements but the numbers are going up."
Belinda says her family now spends the holidays grieving over what she says was a preventable accident.
"We spend our holidays with my son behind a glass frame. That's how we spend our holidays. That's how I spend every holiday," she said. "We set a chair for him and we put him on the table and we talk about him and we just enjoy life with him in a frame."
Since Ryan's death, the Walkers established a nonprofit called the Forever Falcon Foundation. It awards Vermillion High School students and Firelands High School students with scholarships.
Those students are tasked with writing about the dangers of drunk driving as the goal is to raise awareness about it while educating students on drunk driving laws and penalties.