Former first responder remembers friendship with Jacqueline Saburido

One of the state’s most impactful faces of an anti-drunk driving campaign died earlier this week.

Born in Venezuela, Jacqueline Saburido came to the U.S. to learn English in 1999. While in Austin one night, she was in the passenger seat in a car with other friends when a drunk 18-year-old drifted across the center lane and collided with them head-on.

Two people in the car with Jacqui died, she survived.

“Over 60 percent of her body in 3rd degree burns, just amazing somebody will live after something like that,” said Guy Benson.

Benson was one of the first responders at the crash that night. “The paramedics that were on the scene that night that brought her in, even for them to relive that, it’s a PTSD situation, it’s just too emotionally involved to share that story," he said.

Jacqui didn’t feel that way. After a long recovery, involving 40 surgeries, she worked with TxDOT to share the story of her accident with people all over the world. Even forgiving the driver who hit her on national TV for the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Benson became a friend who helped share her new purpose in life through the Danger Without Intentions program. “She kept asking me, ‘Did you take pictures? Did you take pictures?’ I didn’t want to tell her we didn’t take pictures because we didn’t’ think she was going to make it that night,” he said.

On Monday, Jacqui lost her battle to cancer in Guatemala City.

“People will recognize her face from all over the world,” said Benson.

Many feel Jacqui survived to save the lives of others.

As graduation and prom season get closer, Benson encourages those celebrating to remember Jacqui’s face and the story behind it.

“To go out to one scene and have to pronounce a student dead, like I said, it’s 100 percent preventable. No one needs to lose a life because of one night of partying,” he said.