Sarah Root, 21, graduated from Bellevue University the day before she died, last Sunday.
Her family says she wanted to work in law enforcement. Now they're determined to make sure their daughter gets justice.
Police say Root's life ended because someone had too much to drink and decided to drive anyway.
“We're here tonight to remember and celebrate a life of a beautiful daughter, Sarah."
Huddled against the cold and wind, loved ones remember her glowing smile.
Life-long friend Heather Meyers remembers afternoons making t-shirts.
“In high school, we used to get together to do tie-dye print, then we'd get ready before the game and go cheer AL,” said Meyers.
Now she wears a t-shirt to honor her friend.
“I’m going to wear it as often as I can to keep her memory alive," said Meyers.
Root died as a result of injuries she suffered in a car crash on Jan. 31.
Prosecutors say 19-year-old Eswin Mejia was drunk and racing another car when he slammed into Root's SUV as it was stopped at an Omaha intersection.
He's now charged with vehicular homicide. A judge set his bond at $50,000, which means he must pay $5,000 to bail out of jail.
“And find it very upsetting that the cost of a bond proved less than the cost of her funeral," said her father, Scott Root.
He’s determined to make sure his little girl, who wanted to help others, isn't forgotten.
“We cannot bring Sarah, beautiful Sarah, back but we'll always carry her on our hearts and continue to be her voice in her fight for justice."
As for Mejia, investigators say he was driving on a suspended license and his blood alcohol level was three times the legal limit.
SEE ALSO: Prosecutor: Man charged with deadly crash had 0.241 BAC
Root donated her organs, saving six other people.
