3 D Advisor

New Legislation Allows Change of Death Certificates to Reflect True Cause!

We Save Lives is thrilled to unveil our new website for the Not an Accident campaign! 🚀

With 32 organizations rallying behind our cause and over 500 supporters already signing our petition, we are gaining momentum like never before! Sign the petition here!

But the real excitement lies in our legislative progress: our bill, SB1701, has been introduced by Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, with an impressive 19 bipartisan co-authors standing together in support of truth and accountability. This collective effort is a powerful testament to our commitment to making a difference!

We Save Lives is excited to announce that we now have a website for our Not an Accident campaign. We now have 32 organizations who have joined our cause and more than 500 people have signed our petition.

But what is most exciting is that our bill SB1701 has been introduced by Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh. She is joined by 19 bipartisan co authors who believe in truth and accountability by supporting this bill.

What does SB1701 do?

Senate Bill 1071 would provide a legal mechanism to amend the manner of death on a death certificate after a court judgment to ensure that the manner of death is not classified as an accident when there is a legal finding of homicide.

Why the change?

Under current law, only next of kin may request an amendment to the cause of death if the request is accompanied by a physician’s certification.2

Next of kin may also request an amendment to correct typographical errors to personal information on a death certificate.

However, existing law does not provide a path for next of kin to amend the manner of death.

How will this bill solve the problem?

SB 1071 would allow a victim’s next of kin to request an amendment to a loved one’s death certificate to ensure that it reflects the legal finding of the manner of death.

The bill does not attempt to change a physician’s or pathologist’s autopsy protocol or a coroner’s report, but rather to provide an official record that reflects a court’s legal determination.

This change in the law will provide better statistics and data to inform public health, criminal justice, research, and policy systems at multiple levels.



Drunk and impaired driving deaths are up in California, and death certificates should accurately categorize these deaths as homicides, not accidents.

Join us in pushing for change and be part of this vital movement!

News & Updates 🗞️

■■ Stat Check: Between 2019 and 2023, almost 38 percent of all traffic deaths during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday involved a person driving drunk, resulting in 284 preventable deaths.

Prevent Fatalities!!!

STOP Underrides National Town Hall. Join a national organizing effort for crash victims and supporters rallying to support The STOP Underrides 2.0 Act of 2026 in Congress. This virtual Town Hall will allow citizens from across the country to share their stories and take collective action together. Join us.

📅 April 15 | 🕖 8 – 9 pm ET | RSVP HERE 

■■ Upcoming Event: Spring Break!

March - April DUI arrests and alcohol-related traffic fatalities spike during spring break particularly in coastal areas and college towns, due to increased alcohol consumption among young adults. A 2022 Texas survey showed a 42% increase in DUI-related fatalities. Make memories, not fatal mistakes, by planning ahead for a safe way home if you drink, and having the Courage to Intervene if you see someone about to make an unsafe driving decision.

■■ Policy Update: Street Racing & Aggressive Driving: Enhanced, stricter penalties for street racing and exhibition driving, with fines often reaching $2,000 to $2,500.

Take Action

■ Share this newsletter with 3 friends to help spread the message.

■ Sign the Not an Accident Petition Write letters to the Health Committe to support this legisaltion. Instructions here.

Celebration of Life 🪽

On March 13, 2023, Cassandra Kay Linder, a 16-year-old, tragically lost her life due to the actions of a distracted and fatigued commercial motor vehicle (CMV) driver. On the first day of spring break, she was returning home after receiving hand-me-down clothes from her older sister, who lived in Garden City, Kansas.

As she was driving home on a clear, beautiful day, the CMV driver missed a curve entirely. Cassandra noticed the impending crash and attempted to avoid it, but she was struck at a speed of 55 MPH. The impact resulted in severe injuries, breaking both her legs and her arm, and severing her liver. Fortunately, her seatbelt saved her life from the initial impact. Although she did not sustain a broken neck or back or suffer a life-threatening head injury, the mangling of her vehicle delayed rescue efforts. It took 40 minutes to extract her from the wreckage, during which time she bled to death from her injuries.

The CMV driver sustained only minor injuries and was not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash. According to his report, he had been on his phone and reached down to pick up a fallen bottle of water. The CMV was equipped with an onboard camera that recorded the entire incident, featuring a forward-facing view but lacking a driver-facing camera.

Further investigation revealed that the driver had an active TikTok account filled with videos of himself driving while holding his phone—both at night and during the day, including instances of cars passing by and driving in snowy conditions. These videos demonstrated a reckless disregard for the safety of others. It begs the question: Do you really believe this was an accident?