Authorities said Mya Sinceno-Martinez was hit and killed in September by a suspected drunk driver who was traveling the wrong way on Highway 225.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — Krystalle Wright is turning her pain into purpose.
Wright’s 21-year-old daughter, Mya Sinceno-Martinez, was killed in a crash on Highway 225 in September 2024. Deer Park police said the driver accused of hitting Sinceno-Martinez, identified as Julio Gonzalez, was going the wrong way on the highway. Court documents revealed that responding officers could smell alcohol on Gonzalez. He was charged with intoxication manslaughter by vehicle.
Seven months later, Wright said that her heart still aches.
“Mya was the most amazing child ever. She was my best friend, literally my best friend, and my best friend got taken away because of someone else’s poor choices,” Wright said.
But Wright is now trying to prevent other families from going through similar tragedies. She said she is partnering with La Porte High School, where Mya went before enrolling at the University of Houston, to educate teens about impaired driving.
She, along with school leaders and other community members, are helping students at the school create a film and organize an in-person crash reenactment to show the dangers of drunk driving. Wright said the impaired driving film will be presented to La Porte High School students at the end of the week, and the reenactment will take place next week.
Wright said what happened to her daughter is inspiring her to make a difference.
“It’s very, very, extremely important to me to be able to bring awareness to, not only the high school, but where we live. And why not reach the upcoming generation, because that’s where we can make the difference the most,” Wright said. “I’m able to at least bring that awareness in her name.”
Education is part of how the Texas Department of Transportation is tackling impaired driving. They put on various DWI simulator pop-ups at schools and college campuses across the state.
“One of the big things that we do talk about actively is drinking and driving, intoxicated driving, impaired driving. We actively go out, talk to kids, make sure we’re reaching out to the young generation,” TxDOT spokesperson Danny Perez said.
Perez added that he believes the work TxDOT is doing to prevent impaired driving is also addressing wrong-way crashes. He said a significant number of wrong-way crashes happen because someone is intoxicated.
“We see it in improvements. The wrong way crashes, there are few. But there’s a lot of work that can still be done,” Perez said. “The problem that we’re still seeing is people who are taking chances, and people are still getting behind the wheel. There are so many options after they’ve had a few drinks.”
Perez encouraged people to have a plan if they decide to go out and drink, such as getting a designated driver or ordering a rideshare.
TxDOT’s work to prevent wrong-way crashes includes putting “Do Not Enter” signs and red reflective tape on off-ramps to deter drivers from getting on the highways in the wrong direction.