‘It’s changed our life’: Ashland family remembers late son during Drunk Driving Awareness Month

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Just over a year ago, the Budz family’s life was changed forever.

Mary Beth and Fank Budz moved to Ashland with their three children in 2019.

But their youngest, 23-year-old Bryce, was killed in a DUI crash in 2023.

“It’s changed our life,” Mary Beth said. “It’s changed the course of our life.”

Bryce Budz

Courtesy: The Budz family

It happened the day before Thanksgiving and just a couple weeks before his college graduation.

He had gotten a ride with a friend, 24-year-old Madisyn Haack.

“He didn’t know she was as drunk as she was,” Mary Beth said.

According to Saunders County officials, Haack’s blood alcohol content level was .203%, almost three times the legal limit.

Court documents say she was speeding down county roads, before the truck veered off the road and rolled multiple times.

SEE ALSO: Woman pleads no contest in deadly Saunders County crash

“This last year has been spent in a criminal suit, regarding his death,” Mary Beth said.

Haack was sentenced in October to 90 days in jail and five years of probation.

“One of the things that have come out of this is the emphasis placed on being sober and not driving impaired.” Frank Budz said. “But not driving with a drunk is as important. I don’t think there is enough emphasis on that.”

Mary Beth and Frank want people to be aware of the signs of an impaired driver, so that you can avoid getting in the car with the wrong person.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving said there are a few warning signs.

“An odor of alcohol, slurred speech, glassy eyes, and not acting like themselves,” said Erin Payton, with MAAD Nebraska. “If you feel different, you’re going to drive different.”

SEE ALSO: Woman accused of DUI, manslaughter in rural Saunders County crash

DUIs increase during the holidays, so December is Drunk Driving Awareness Month.

Nebraska has seen more DUI arrests in 2024 than in the past few years, according to the Nebraska State Patrol.

Compared with this time last year, the state has an increase of more than 200.

That’s just another reason to stay alert on the roads this holiday season.

SEE ALSO: Lincoln woman on the mend from ‘devastating’ crash with man accused of driving drunk

The Budz family didn’t plan on staying in Ashland for long.

But now that their son is laid to rest there, they said they’ll stay forever.