Spanish
The Governor of Puerto Rico, Jenniffer González Colón, today presented a new educational campaign against drunk driving and signed Law 136-2025, legislation that establishes mandatory jail time for drivers who, under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances, cause death or serious bodily harm. The meeting was held in response to multiple tragedies caused by alcohol consumption while driving, highlighting among these the death of the young Justin Rafael Santos, brother of the urban artist Arcángel.
The campaign focuses on the audiovisual piece "A dream stopped. A message to save lives." inspired by Justin's story. The production, developed with the full authorization of his family and using digital recreation, shows significant moments of the young man in a sensitive and respectful way, becoming the emotional axis of the awareness effort of this new law.
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As the main spokesperson for the campaign, Arcángel participated on behalf of the victims and his own family, who are still facing the pain caused by the loss of Justin. His presence symbolized the real and human impact behind each statistic and reinforced the message that an irresponsible decision can destroy entire families. Arcángel recounted how the death of his brother, which occurred in November 2021 when a drunk driver invaded the opposite lane on the Teodoro Moscoso bridge, marked his life forever. From his personal experience, the artist urged the country to take responsibility and opt for safe alternatives such as a designated driver or the use of public transportation. Justin, who stood out as a stage assistant and presentation coordinator, dreamed of becoming an entertainment entrepreneur and managing his brother's artistic career. His life, full of goals and aspirations, was abruptly stopped, becoming a reminder of the fragility of life in the face of the irresponsibility of driving under the influence of alcohol. In social media, Arcángel celebrated the approval of Law 136-2025, calling it a historic achievement for Puerto Rico: “We managed to create the law that ensures jail time for anyone who takes a life while driving under the influence of alcohol. We achieved this in the name of Justin and all the families who have lost a loved one due to a drunk and irresponsible driver.” He thanked the Governor of Puerto Rico, the Commission for Traffic Safety (CST), and the agencies involved for making it possible. With this legislation and the educational campaign, the Government of Puerto Rico and the CST reaffirmed their commitment to prevent fatalities and protect lives. The story of Justin Santos, now transformed into a powerful public message, seeks to create collective awareness and prevent more families from suffering similar tragedies caused by drunk driving.
