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He remembers it like it was yesterday.

"The incident happened on the 29th of December, 1977, approximately 7:15pm at night," said Dikant.

Every detail. Down to what the driver had been drinking.

"He was drinking Irish mists with beer chasers," said Dikant. "Was going about 85 miles an hour. Barbara and Karen died instantly. I had to take Michael off life support on New Year's Eve. It's something you don't ever want to see in your life."

The crash was not a half mile from this spot - turned DWI checkpoint - in East Greenbush where, today, motorists are getting the message the pain caused by drunk driving is felt 30 years later. And 30 days later.

"We're from Columbia High School and one of our students recently got in a drunk driving accident," said a volunteer to a passing motorist.

"It's a month ago now that my family was hurt," said Loriann Smith. "They were driving up Luther Road and a drunk driver crossed the yellow line in a one ton pickup truck and hit them head on. My husband and daughter are alive by they have an incredible mountain to climb now."

Dikant and Smith said seeing the Columbia High School volunteers out spreading the message of awareness gives them a source of strength. Smith said she'll remember this as she's moves forward.

"Once I get my family back in one piece, my goal is to bang down the doors of the legislature and try to change some of the laws, so we make drunk driving a much more punishable offense," said Smith. "It's a terrible, awful thing that we've been through and if I could turn back the clock and change it I would in a heart beat."

But for Bill Dikant, on December 29th, 1977, the clock stopped.

"It's something I'll always remember," he said. "Michael as 12 year old. And Karen as eight.

40-year-old Oscar Lewis is awaiting trial on two counts of aggravated vehicular assault and driving while intoxicated for the accident that injured Hannah Smith and her father Stephen Smith. The family says they will soon face enormous medical expenses as they continue to heal. To follow their recoveries or to donate to the family log on to steveandhannahsmith.blogspot.com.