The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) provides a tangible outlet for families coping with the loss of a loved one to vehicular tragedies through a memorial sign program that allows for a public commemoration of the lives cut short. The initiative, open to families of motorcyclists killed by another's negligence and victims of impaired driving incidents on state highways, offers the chance to erect a memorial sign at or near the scene of the crash, sharing the victim's name with travelers passing by.
This program, outlined by a recent TxDOT publication, offers more than just a marker; it serves as a beacon of awareness regarding the consequences of irresponsible driving. Mya Sinceno-Martinez, a 21-year-old taken too soon by an alleged intoxicated driver in Deer Park, Texas, is one such individual being remembered through this initiative. Heartbreakingly, the driver veered the wrong way down SH 225 in September 2024, colliding fatally with Mya's vehicle. The memorial sign, born out of this tragedy, is a testament to the life she led and the void felt in her absence.
In an interview with the TxDOT, Krystalle Wright, Mya's mother, shared her thoughts on this gesture of remembrance, expressing not only her personal grief but the communal strength her daughter provided. "Mya is the epicenter of our family, our lifeline. She used to give us and still gives us her strength every day to fight and move forward. She brought us to laughter. She was a shoulder to lean on," said Wright. The process of securing the sign, which included liaison with the police who handled Mya's case and a $350 fee for its creation, culminated in a small ceremony earlier this March.
Wright's motivation behind participating in the sign program is dual: honoring Mya's memory while also potentially steering others away from the path that led to her daughter's untimely demise. "It’s important for me for people to know who she is and what she meant to us because now she’s our angel and not a day goes by that we don’t think about her and miss her. If I can remind someone to not be the person that shattered another family‘s life, then why not?" Wright told TxDOT. She hopes that those who see Mya's sign will be moved to learn about the remarkable person she was.
