Memorial sign unveiled on I-20 in honor of Aspen Blessing

CALLAHAN COUNTY, Texas ( KTAB/KRBC ) – A memorial sign has been placed on Interstate 20 in Callahan County in honor of Aspen Blessing, a Baird teen whose life was lost from a head-on collision caused by a drunk driver.

The Blessing family changed forever on March 10, 2024, and they have now decided to turn their grief into advocacy against distracted driving. Aspens’s mother, Jennifer Blessing, said they want to do their part to ensure no family has to experience what they did.

“If through our actions and spreading the word about this, we can change to where no other families have to go through this. We want to do our part and use this tragedy for some amount of good that we can,” Jennifer said.

After dealing with the aftermath of the accident, the Blessings decided to ensure Aspen’s story would have an impact. They started by teaming up with TxDOT to get a sign put up in her honor at the site of her crash.

Abilene District traffic safety specialist with TxDOT Jill Christie told KTAB/KRBC that spreading the message about drunk driving is important to help end fatalities on the roads.

“One life lost is too many. It’s one life that’s been lost of many across Texas, across the United States due to impaired driving, and we want to end the streak of those fatalities on our roadways,” Christie said.

The memorial sign pleads for drivers to drive sober, joined by Aspens’ names and the date of the fatal crash. Her sister, Tabitha Blessing, said the sign is not just a marker for people to drive by; it should serve as a reminder of how choices can lead to consequences.

“It’s not ‘Oh, that’s where her accident was.’ It’s ‘Oh, her accident was there in memory.’ Now people can see that sign and think, ‘Oh, don’t drink and drive because this is what can happen to you,'” Tabitha said.

The Blessing family is also sparking a foundation out of the tragedy to help continue the conversation about distracted driving across the Big Country. The foundation’s name is ‘One Choice.’ Jennifer said the name comes as an example of how one decision can change a lifetime.

“Every choice you make, looking at your phone, playing with your friends in the car, or being distracted while you’re driving: one choice could lead to devastation again,” Jennifer said. “Through all of this, we really are hoping that people remember that this makes an impact.”

Visit their website to learn more about Aspen’s story and the work of One Choice.

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