Fourteen more names have been added to the DUI Victims Memorial Highway on Kyle Canyon Road

LAS VEGAS – Fourteen more signs, each representing a person killed by someone driving under the influence, have been added to the DUI Victims Memorial Highway at Kyle Canyon Road.

Officers from the Nevada State Police and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department joined the victims’ families for STOP DUI’s annual ‘Miles of Memories’ gathering.

Each victim’s name appears on a sign placed along the highway by their families, including for the two officers killed last year. Sergeant Michael Abbate and Private Alberto Felix.

Sandy Heverly, executive director of STOP DUI, said the 14 new signs were added to the 115 displayed annually to highlight drivers visiting Mount Charleston during the holidays.

Heverly said more victims died in a DUI-related incident last year and those with signs are only those whose families were connected to the nonprofit.

One of the new signs is in memory of Jose Angel Ayala.

“He was my hero, he was such a hard worker and he did everything to see us happy,” said Janely Ayala, Jose Angel Ayala’s youngest daughter.

Janely said she and her family were driving back from California after purchasing her Quinceañera dress last November.

“On the way back we heard a noise on our tire. My dad got out and pulled over to the emergency side. He checked the tires and a car just hit him,” she said.

The 15-year-old said her family all witnessed her father being hit.

“It flew about 30 feet away and we couldn’t find it,” Janely said.

“I went crazy in the middle of the desert, screaming and shouting because I couldn’t find him and his body was so far away. I didn’t know what to do. We were in shock, me and my daughters,” said Claudia Ayala, the wife of Jose Angel Ayala and mother of Janely Ayala.

The mother and daughter said that when they found him, his leg was unattached and his body was lifeless.

Claudia Ayala said losing the love of her life and her husband of 29 years has broken her heart, and wonders why he did that.

“He was a great husband, son, father, brother, great person. When he was in office, we had a lot of support, a lot of people showed up, he was a great great person,” she said.

The two said that after they hit Jose, the person behind the wheel continued to drive away.

“He didn’t even care to stop or help or anything, he just left,” Janely said. “When he was pulled over, he said he didn’t hit anything even though all the evidence was on his car.”

She said the driver was under the influence, and because of their selfish decision to drive, the family now has to live without their hero.

“If you drink, don’t drive because it destroys families and that’s forever,” Claudia said.

Heverly said the signs will remain along the highway until January and then be put up again in November.