CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — Millions of people will gather for the big game on Sunday. If you're partying with alcohol, there's plenty of ways to celebrate responsibly.

"It'll be eight years this coming May. May 19, 2017. It was the worst day of our lives," said Tammy Duffy.

Her daughter Kaitlyn Duffy was 18 years old and on her way to Virginia Tech where she planned to go for pre-med.

"She was a senior at Great Bridge High School here in Chesapeake, and she was about a week away from her senior prom and about a month away from graduating," explained Tammy.

Her daughter had a 4.4 GPA and worked her way up to be the Girl Scout equivalent of an Eagle Scout. She worked at least one job while also competing athletically in sports like swimming. She was her school's co-captain the year she passed. 

Despite her high achievements, she always looked to her mom, Tammy, for guidance. 

"She asked me that morning when I tiptoed in her room to go take some of my nice makeup back that she would always steal from my bathroom," recalled Tammy about the day her daughter passed. "She rolled over in her bed and... it's one of my last memories of her... She said, 'Mom, I'm really stressed out with school. Everybody's skipping school. It's senior skip day. We're going to the beach today, so can I please go?'"

Tammy said yes. She didn't know it would be the last time she'd speak to her daughter. Just hours later, the drunk driver of a 10,000-pound furniture truck crashed into her daughter's car in Virginia Beach.

"We had a lot of eyewitnesses that saw the whole thing," she said. "He went off the road, into one of the drainage ditches there in that part of Pungo. He overcorrected, and he was intoxicated and impaired on drugs and alcohol. He went airborne and slammed into her. Basically, hitting her door on an angle so hopefully it killed her instantly."

Jerode Johnson's choice to get behind the wheel cost Tammy her only daughter. The courts convicted him of a list of crimes, sentencing him to nearly 50 years in jail. Another young woman, Kaitlyn's friend, was also in the car when the crash happened. She was severely hurt, but Tammy said she survived the impact.

"Our whole world was turned upside down due to impaired driving," said Tammy.

After losing Kaitlyn, Tammy has spent her time advocating for safe, sober driving with MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving). This weekend ahead of Sunday's big football game, she said her mission is stronger than ever.

"They had developed a campaign called 'Take a minute, make a plan'," she said about her organization's message. "I just ask everybody to just take that one minute before you actually go out and enjoy the Super Bowl, before you leave to go anywhere, and have a plan in place."

Tammy said there are a lot of options available for people looking to secure a sober ride. Uber, Lyft, and taxi services make it easier than ever.

Drive Safe Hampton Roads is even offering discounts on Lyft rides for the Super Bowl. You can claim your discount by clicking here.

JAMES CITY Co., Va. (WAVY) -- Police said a man is dead and a woman is hurt after an assault at a home in James City County.

On Friday just after 2:00 p.m., police said they were called to a home in the 9400 block of Diascund Reservoir Road. When they arrived, first responders said they found a woman outside who'd been hurt and a man inside the home who was unresponsive. He was rushed to a hospital where detectives said he later died.

As the case progressed throughout the day, detectives said they had developed leads connecting the assault to a robbery from the night before. As a result, two people were taken into custody. Detectives said Harley James McClure Hutchens, 29, and Amber Nicole Johnson, 28, both of James City County, were subsequently charged in connection with both cases.

Harley James McClure Hutchens (Courtesy: Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail)

Amber Nicole Johnson (Courtesy: Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail)

Hutchens is charged with robbery, strangulation, two counts of conspiracy to commit a felony, preventing the calling of 911, destruction of property, unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, and breaking and entering into a dwelling.

Johnson is charged with robbery, unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, and two counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

Both are being held in the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail.

The investigation is still ongoing. Detectives ask that if you know anything, to give them a call at 757-259-5148.

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