Grieving Mother Becomes Activist Against Illegal Immigration

Michelle Root is haunted by the avoidable death of her daughter

L–R: Scott Root Jr., Michelle Root, Sarah Root, and Scott Root at Sarah’s graduation ceremony on Jan. 30, 2016, just hours before she was killed. Courtesy of Michelle Root

When holding her baby, Michelle Root could never have known that she would only have her for 21 years, 8 months, and 30 days.

Her daughter, Sarah, was at a stop light on Jan. 31, 2016—the night of her college graduation—when a drunk, unlicensed driver, who was traveling almost 70 miles per hour in a 35-mile zone, slammed into her vehicle. She didn’t stand a chance.