A mother has made an emotional plea on the 25th anniversary of her son's drink-driving tragedy.
Kay Stevens, who lives near Banbury in Middleton Cheney, lost her son on November 14, 1999.
She said Michael, who was 16-years-old, was killed by a drunk driver while walking to work.
Now, she wants to raise awareness and ensure another family does not have to go through the same "hell".
Ms Stevens said: "Please don't drink and drive. You might think that you aren't impaired, it's just a short trip, no coppers about."
She said 25 years ago her son left the village to walk to his after school job at Wickes.
"He normally rode his bike, but it was raining heavily and he decided he was better to walk," she said.
READ MORE: Bicester MP slams proposals to close London Road Crossing
"He was saving up to go to medical school after which he wanted to join the RAF.
"He never made it to work.
"At 4.30 he was hit by a driver who had spent all afternoon drinking."
Ms Stevens said she found her son two hours later in the dark on a cold rainy verge.
"Can you imagine telling your daughters their big brother has died?" she said.
"How would you tell a six year old, an eight year old. Can you imagine the pain in their eyes, the fear?
"What about the horror of a 14 year old who understands what's ahead only too well? A toddler who can't articulate her confusion ?
"What about all the phone calls to grandparents, aunties and uncles.
"If you can imagine that, then please, please, don't take the risk. Don't put another family through this hell."
Ms Stevens said after Michael died, his sister developed a brain tumour which was "totally ignored" by medics until long past the normal life expectancy.
She said they eventually caught it, but the delay has had "profound and permanent effects" on her.
"If we still had Michael, he wouldn't have ignored his little sister, he'd have taken the time to see the glaring symptoms of Cushings," Ms Stevens said.
"Don't do it, don't encourage others. Have the courage to take their keys, phone the police emergency line.
"Don't put another family through this."
The heartbroken mother also aims to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation.
READ MORE: Oxfordshire streetlighting apology issued after backlash
In the summer of 1999 while Ms Stevens was watching the news about a child in need of a liver transplant, Michael said: "If anything ever happens to me, make sure they take everything."
"My heart literally was shredding into pieces as I relayed his wish to be a donor," Ms Stevens said.
"In the weeks, months, years ahead, so much pain and darkness, periods of utter dispair, we would remember Michael's selflessness.
"My son left too early, he left a heartful of love with nowhere to go.
"But he also left his family a tangible sense of pride, five lives saved. Our hero."
Help support trusted local news
Sign up for a digital subscription now: https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/subscribe/
As a digital subscriber you will get:
- Unlimited access to the Oxford Mail website
- Advert-light access
- Reader rewards
- Full access to our app
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here