On September 24, 2021 after leaving his Senior Homecoming Football Game to take a band member home, Cole Overstreet was struck head on and killed less than a mile from his high school by a driver who was described by witnesses as intoxicated and obviously under the influence. Cole was killed on impact, while his band member had minor injuries. The driver who hit Cole proceeded to leave the scene on foot and did not render aid or wait for law enforcement to arrive. 

Cole had just turned 18, had just started his Senior year of High School at Livingston High School. He was in Drum Line in the Band, had plans to go to College, enjoyed going to church and spending time with his family. He left behind his mother, father, younger sister and brother, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and a whole school and senior class who loved him. 

The man who killed Cole fled for 3 days before he was found. In his truck there were empty beer containers, drugs, and even a ski mask and a gun. Shortly after the accident it was made known that this was not this mans first incident with driving under the influence and this in fact would have been his fifth time being caught by Law Enforcement if he would have stayed on the scene. Unfortunately he did not get arrested for his fifth DWI. Since he fled the scene he was not able to have his blood alcohol level tested. 

This system failed my cousin, Cole Overstreet and will continue to fail all future victims of people like the man who killed Cole and like so many others who think it is okay to get behind the wheel intoxicated. Currently in Texas penalties for DWI's are very lenient, for first offenses the maximum sentence is a mere 180 days in jail. For third offenses the sentence is 2-10 years. Getting behind the wheel of a car is a cognitive choice that you could murder someone. And that someone could be like our Cole, who was barely getting the beginning of the rest of his life. We urge you to sign this petition in support of stricter laws for those who make the decision to drive drunk. We urge you to sign this petition in support of stricter laws for those who make the decision to flee a scene to escape a charge. We urge you to fight for people, like Cole so that this never has to happen to another family again. We urge you to fight for Justice for Cole and for the other people in Texas that are mourning the loss of their loved ones all because someone decided to drive under the influence. Together, we can make a change.