Grieving wife asks Jacksonville drivers to think before they drink this New Year’s Eve

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The first day of 2021 marks a painful anniversary for Charrell Crittenden and her family. On Jan. 1, 2020, her husband, Zarrell, was killed in a crash with a wrong-way driver.

She said her husband was coming back from church.

“My husband and I were married for eight years,” she said. “We were high school sweethearts. We have three beautiful little boys.”

Action News Jax first told you when Zarrell, 27, was killed on the Arlington Expressway. The Florida Highway Patrol said Zarrell was driving eastbound when he was fatally struck by another car being driven the wrong way.

The wrong-way driver, Asea Hollingshed, 28, was taken to the hospital with critical injuries, according to an FHP report. She has since been arrested and charged with DUI manslaughter.

Crittenden is urging anyone who is going out to celebrate the New Year to be safe.

Jacksonville Beach Police said they will have extra officers patrolling the bars and the roadways.

RELATED: Jacksonville father of 3 dies in crash after leaving church, family says

“Make sure you have a plan in place before you leave,” Commander Mark Evans said. “Because as you start drinking obviously your thought process is not going to be working the same.”

Action News Jax has a list of businesses and rideshare services offering ways to get around for the New Year’s Eve holiday.

Cox Media Group