Parents of 5-Year-Old Victim in Huffing DUI Speak of Anguish of Losing Their Daughter

Jaclyn Santos-Sacramento’s father describes the death of his 5-year-old daughter as akin to losing a limb. Her mother can’t even speak about the accident.

The couple spoke with the Daily Herald in their first sit-down interview since Jaclyn was killed two years ago while walking down the Central Avenue in Highland Park with her family.

Carly Rousso, then 18, had huffed an intoxicant and drove across several lanes of traffic and onto the sidewalk, running over Jaclyn. Rousso, of Highland Park, was sentenced last month to five years in prison.

Jaclyn’s parents described their daughter as a happy girl who was excited to have just started kindergarten and loved to dance, the article says. They can’t bring themselves to tell her 8- and 5-year-old brothers than Jaclyn is dead, instead saying she’s in Mexico, where her parents are originally from.

You can read the full Daily Herald interview here.

Photo: A photo of Jaclyn Santos-Sacramento at a vigil held for Jaclyn shortly after her death. Patch file photo.