Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Hedrick Chevrolet on Wednesday announced “Driving Change,” a campaign aimed at preventing impaired driving through community partnerships, education and enforcement.

The monthlong campaign brings together local businesses, law enforcement, and community leaders with a shared goal of keeping families safe.

As part of the effort, Hedrick Chevrolet will donate a portion of every vehicle sold in January to support MADD’s victim services, prevention programs and education efforts in the Central Valley.

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Fresno County Leaders Speak on Drunk Driving

Natasha Thomas, area executive director for MADD Northern California, said impaired driving affects entire communities, not just individuals. “Every crash leaves lasting impacts on families and neighborhoods,” she said.

Clovis Police Chief Curt Fleming said impaired driving remains a persistent problem despite decades of enforcement and education. Fleming highlighted a recent crash in which a 62-year-old man, identified as Steve Myer of Prather, struck a toddler and their mother in the Trader Joe’s parking lot. Myer was arrested on felony DUI charges.

“Impaired driving continues to impact Clovis as well as in county and throughout the state for that matter,” Fleming said. “These crashes affect not only victims and families, but also the first responders.” He urged the public to intervene if they see someone attempting to drive while impaired.

The Fresno Police Department reported on Tuesday that DUI arrests rose from 2,284 in 2024 to 2,449 in 2025.

Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig said collaboration and public awareness have contributed to reductions in traffic fatalities, but impaired driving remains a leading cause of serious crashes in the county.

“When it comes to just awareness of driving while impaired, this is something we can’t take a break on,” Magsig said. “We’ve noticed that as we educate the public, as we work together, as talk to our neighbors, as the media is involved carrying this message, we see parallels where there is a reduction in fatalities.” He added that Fresno County is one of the most dangerous places to drive and that impaired driving is a leading cause of accidents.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Steve Ueltzen said Fresno County filed 5,165 misdemeanor DUI cases and 423 felony DUI cases in 2025, along with eight murder cases tied to impaired driving that involved 15 fatalities. He noted that awareness campaigns have been shown to reduce preventable cases.

California Highway Patrol Fresno Area Commander Ian Holguin said CHP officers arrested more than 2,000 DUI drivers in the Fresno area in 2025, calling the number a sign of how prevalent impaired driving remains.

“Real change happens when enforcement is paired with prevention, education, and strong community partnerships such as this,” he said.

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Victim of Drunk Driving Details Her Experience

The event also featured a victim impact statement from Delila Banuelos, who shared the lasting effects of losing her father, Federico, to a DUI crash more than a decade ago.

“When this occurred, it was really life-changing. It was emotionally devastating. My life had to go on, so I actually emotionally shut down for many years,” Banuelos said.

Three years ago, Banuelos became involved with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, which she credits with helping her find an outlet to share her story and heal. Over time, she said her motivation expanded from personal recovery to helping prevent similar tragedies for other families.

Banuelos urges the public to “think twice before you get behind the wheel,” stressing that impaired driving has long-lasting consequences not just for the driver but for entire families. She encourages survivors to join support groups as a critical step in their healing process.

Banuelos said the presence of MADD locally is crucial for keeping the message of prevention visible. “Without MADD, I don’t think that message will be out. It’s really important for us to be a reminder for everybody not to be drinking and driving,” she said.

The crash that killed her father occurred on Goodfellow Avenue near the Rodriguez store toward Reedley in Fresno County. The suspected driver has never been found. When asked what she would say to that DUI driver, she told reporters she began to write a letter to him, like she did to her father, “but I just thought it doesn’t matter.”

She said she still wonders if the driver ever thinks about the family he hurt.

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