This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

On Four-Year Anniversary of Sayville Resident's Death, Film Depicts Impact of DWI

Granddaughter of Gina Casazza shows how one fatal mistake can change many lives.

The emotional repercussions of driving while intoxicated are shown first hand in a new film titled “One Fatal Mistake.”  

On Nov. 11, 2007, Virginia (Gina) Urgo Casazza, a 40-year Sayville resident, was killed by a drunk driver. Sophia Santos, daughter of 2003 Kentucky Derby winner Jose Santos, was driving with a blood-alcohol level three times the legal driving limit when she ran a red light, plowing her Mercedes Benz into Gina’s car.

One of Gina’s 10 grandchildren, and her namesake, Gina Casazza, a CUNY-Hunter School of Film student, began making a documentary dedicated to her grandmother’s memory.

Find out what's happening in Sayville-Bayportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The film is shown through the eyes of six of Gina’s grandchildren ranging from age 12 to 18. It is intended to bring awareness to this deadly occurrence and provide a better understanding as to why people make such bad, and often tragic, choices. The intent, according to Gina, is to have high schools throughout the country show this film to their students, with a focus on making students re-think their choices and ultimately save lives and prevent such sadness.

One Fatal Mistake goes to the scene of the accident where Gina’s now widowed husband discusses what occurred that fatal evening. The film speaks to the grandchildren, hearing about how this tragic loss uniquely affected each of them. Other interviews are done with people who have driven impaired, giving insight into why people make such reckless choices.

Find out what's happening in Sayville-Bayportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Viewers listen to their individual stories, many filled with regret and remorse. Filmmakers meet with representatives of the anti-drunk driving organization, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and hear about their strategies for eliminating drunk driving. Viewers can feel the tremendous impact that this tragedy has on families as well as the regret, guilt and sadness felt by the drunk drivers themselves.

Gina decided to turn this experience around and educate people on the dangers and often destructive consequences of driving while impaired. After four years of hard work, Gina’s film will be making its debut on Nov. 11, the anniversary of her grandmother’s death. The film will be shown at Theater Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson at 6:45 p.m., with an after-party to follow at the Meadow Club at 8:30 p.m.

“The ‘One Fatal Mistake’ premiere is both a tribute to my grandma and an event to help empower people to stop and think," Gina said, "and in some cases, re-think their actions."

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?