‘She lit up a room’: Loved ones of 26-year-old killed in Henrico crash call for change as legal battle ends

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — On Tuesday, Sept. 10, a Henrico County judge found the second and final person charged in a chain-reaction crash that led to the death of Claire Wenzel in 2022 not guilty of reckless driving.

Wenzel’s family was in the courtroom and has advocated passionately for Claire since the beginning . They told 8News that the battle for justice has been long and hard. While Tuesday marked an emotional end to the legal side of things, they said it’s just the beginning in the fight for change.

“It’s nice to know that she hasn’t been forgotten, because she will never be forgotten in our life,” said Katie Wenzel, Claire’s sister, in an emotional interview after the court session.

It’s been almost two years since the beloved 26-year-old was killed in a 3 a.m., seven-car crash along Interstate 95 on Oct. 30, 2022.

“It was horrific, because I drove by it 3 hours later on my way to work,” said Claire’s mother, Donna Wenzel. “I did not know that that was the crash that took my daughter’s life.”

Despite the time that has passed, for Katie and Donna Wenzel, the emotions still constantly come flooding back.

“When they mentioned Claire’s car, and the accident line up … it brought me right back to the day,” Katie Wenzel said.

While the driver in the case seen Tuesday was involved in the crash, he was not the convicted drunk driver who the courts previously found started the whole thing . Wenzel’s family strongly advocated for the Henrico Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office to pursue more serious charges than a DUI against the drunk driver, but prosecutors did not have a grand jury hear the case and opted to move forward solely with the DUI charge.

Ultimately, a judge sentenced the drunk driver to 12 months — but Wenzel’s loved ones explained to 8News that, because of the way the Virginia legal system operates, the driver only served a few months behind bars. This further strengthened their dedication to getting justice for Claire and educating others to spark change.

“We really need to focus in on advocacy and changing laws, so that first time drunk drivers actually spend some significant time in jail,” Donna Wenzel said.

Standing together outside the Henrico courthouse, the pair reflected on who Claire was. Loved ones said that, every day, they still discover beautiful pictures and hear new memories of the beloved daughter, sister and “shining light.”

“She lit up a room,” Katie Wenzel said. “She was full of energy … had a great personality.”

In 2023, 230 people died in alcohol-related crashes in Virginia. Claire’s loved ones want to continue to share information, stories and facts like this to remind people how serious decisions behind the wheel can be.

“In 2022, the year that Claire died — throughout the United States, every 39 minutes, someone was killed by a drunk driver,” Donna Wenzel said. “So that means, every 39 minutes, someone was a killer.”

The pair emphasized how these victims are more than numbers. Donna pointed out that Claire was her friend group’s designated driver on the night of the crash, meaning her daughter was killed in the type of tragedy she tried to save others from.

Now, through her family, her legacy is living on — saving lives and creating change.

“She would be happy to know that we’re keeping her alive in our memory, alive and advocating for her and not letting anyone forget,” Katie Wenzel said. “Although I think it’s probably hard for people to forget her.”

The Wenzel’s have fought for justice for Claire ever since the crash — even in the earliest stages of the legal action. They got more than 15,000 signatures on this petition . They’re still working to shed light on their cause and raise awareness about the criminal justice system in Virginia and holding people accountable. T

To connect with Donna to learn more about how to become an advocate against drunk driving and help fight for stronger laws, check out this Facebook page.

“We know she was really loved by everyone who ever met her, was touched by her — and she leaves a part of herself in them,” Donna Wenzel said.

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