Image Credit: Courtesy the State of Kansas
By Sunni Battin
A dangerous game of chance.
That is Christina Branson’s message to any person, even one drink in, who chooses to get behind the wheel of a vehicle after drinking alcohol.
“I get very upset about impaired driving because everyone has a cell phone these days. It is simple to find other options,” she said.
On Nov. 12, 2022, Branson lost her only biological child in a drunk driving head-on collision. Her daughter, Cheyanne, 23, a Kansas National Guard airman, with the rank of staff sergeant was killed instantly. According to court records, a male driving east on U.S. Highway 24 in Jefferson County crossed the center line and collided with Cheyanne.
In 2023, Manuel Enriquez was charged with driving under the influence and murder in the second degree, per court records. At the time, he pleaded not guilty. In August, he was convicted of both charges and will spend 9 years in prison, with October 2033 being his first opportunity at parole, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
“No matter what he was sentenced, it does not bring her back,” Branson said. “He will get to start over once he is out and she’ll never get that option. And because of the choice he made, I’ll never get to hear someone call me mom ever again. That destroys me every day.”
While nothing can replace the loss of her daughter, Branson is channeling her love for Cheyanne by advocating for more awareness and more accountability. Starting in Kansas, she hopes to work with lawmakers to have tougher penalties for those who drink and drive. In addition, she is speaking more publicly about her story to caution others. And for the first time in the state, she is having Dec. 16 proclaimed as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
“The day serves as a reminder to the public about the serious consequences of impaired driving, which includes fatalities, injuries, and legal repercussions,” said Matt Bretz, who serves on the MADD board and is an attorney that has been representing victims of drunk driving and their loved ones for three decades. “It also underscores the importance of continued efforts to combat impaired driving, making the state's commitment to addressing this public safety issue clear to all Kansans.”
Be it a few minutes away or a few miles down the road, Branson says the game of chance is not worth it. Drunk driving is everywhere, can happen to anyone, and is totally preventable. Even with one drink, getting behind the wheel is not worth chancing. Due to the way Cheyanne lost her life, Branson says she intends to hold every person legally accountable so hopefully another parent will not know her suffering. The work and determination she says is in the name of the daughter she so desperately misses.
“Cheyanne would be proud of me,” Branson said. “She once told me I need to work on getting out of my comfort zone. I’m a very quiet person and not much on getting in front of crowds or public speaking but that has changed. She would love that I have not given up on life and that I’m using my grief for a cause.”
Next speaking engagement:
On Dec. 16, Branson will share her story online via the Moundridge Public Library beginning at 6:30 p.m. CST.
Link information:
Zoom Link: https://kslib.zoom.us/j/561178181
Or
Moundridge Public Library:
https://www.facebook.com/MoundridgePublicLibrary
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