Watch CBS News

Families Of Wrong-Way Wreck Victims Put Up Signs To Encourage Safe Driving

CORAL SPRINGS (CBSMiami) – Family members of two young women killed in a wrong-way crash last year on the Sawgrass Expressway are putting up a permanent reminder of their loss, in hopes of encouraging others to drive safe.

Kaitlyn Ferrante and Marisa Catronio were both killed in November of last year when they were hit by Kaila Mendoza—who was allegedly driving under the influence when she hit them going the wrong way.

Ferrante and Catronio's families put up signs which say, "Drive Safely" on the Sawgrass Expressway—near the spot where the two best friends were hit by the suspected wrong way driver.

According to search warrants, investigators said witnesses told them 20-year-old Kaila Mendoza, who did not have a driver's license, was drinking at the Tijuana Taxi Co. in Coral Springs prior to the crash that killed Kaitlyn Ferrante and Marisa Catronio.

The warrant says "This investigator has since learned from additional witnesses, who provided sworn statements to this or other investigators with the FHP, that Kaila Mendoza was drinking alcoholic beverages with co-workers earlier the night of the crash at Tijuana Taxi Co. in Coral Springs.

The owners of the restaurant told CBS 4 News that they have no knowledge that Mendoza was at the restaurant on the night of November 16th before the deadly accident and that no one at the restaurant remembers Mendoza being there.

Ferrante's mother told CBS4 that she hopes that drivers will take notice of the signs, and will not drink and drive.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.