Laughed often and loved much

Nikki Deffries was killed by a drunk driver on April 4, 1998. She had just turned 14 years old. She was walking down a road with her best friend when she was struck from behind by a drunk driver. Fortunately, her friend was uninjured. The driver -- a Canadian citizen living and working near Marysville, Washington -- had a blood-alcohol level of 0.14. The driver was sentenced to only two and one-half years (because he had a "clean" record) and, after serving his sentence, will be deported back to Canada.

Dad's Memory:

I'll never forget that phone call at 11pm on April 4th 1998 from my 17 year old son Greg. The words still haunt me, "Dad, I think Nikki's dead!" I jumped in my car --I was shaking like crazy -- "This cant be happening!" It took Wendy (Nikki's step-mother) and me 30 minutes to reach the accident scene which was only a mile from Nikki's home, where she lived with her mother and brother Greg. As I arrived, I went running into the accident scene but was stopped by a police officer. The officer hung his head down and said, "I'm sorry, sir." I was devastated.

Nikki's shoe was still on the road where she had stood before the impact threw her body 30 feet into a nearby ditch. I could see the flash of cameras as investigators photographed the scene and Nikki's lifeless body. She had died instantly of a blunt impact to her head. She had a broken leg, ruptured spleen and numerous abrasions from scraping the road surface. My heart was torn apart that night, knowing I would never see my daughter again. Steve Deffries
She was a caring and thoughtful person. Nikki Deffries loved her family and friends. She always thought of others and tried to help whenever she could. A good kid who never did drugs or alcohol, she enjoyed swimming, camping and living life to the fullest. She leaves behind her 18 year old brother Greg; step-brother Kody, 11; and eight year-old half-sister Kristina who doesn't understand why her "Sissy" is gone. They all miss her so much.

Nikki was the focus of the Emphasis Patol on August 6th , 1999 in Snohomish County. Everyone that was pulled over got a flyer that night. Twelve motorists were pulled over for driving under the influence.

Man Charged In Teen's Death
Seattle Times Staff: Seattle Times News Services

EVERETT - A 41-year-old Marysville man has been charged with vehicular homicide in the death of a teenage girl in the spring.

Patrick McGuiness was driving south on Sunnyside Boulevard in Marysville when he hit and killed Nikki Deffries, 14, who was walking along the road with a friend, according to charges filed Friday in Snohomish County Superior Court.

McGuiness had a blood test about 90 minutes after the girl was hit that showed his blood-alcohol level was 0.14 percent, or 0.04 above the legal limit to drive, the charges say. McGuiness is to be arraigned Aug. 21.

God, teach me how to laugh again, and may I never forget why I cried.

To my Darling Daughter Nikki,

It's been one year since you've been gone,
but our love for you still lives on,
We miss you so much each and every day,
but your strength has helped us grow in every way,
Our thoughts are filled with the way you were,
Always helping, caring, sharing and loving, thats for sure.
We know that heaven's a place to be,
and when we get there, we're sure to see,
the most beautiful angel that could ever be.

Love Dad

It occured to me the other day
you've been gone now a couple years
and I remember where I was
when the word came about you
it was day much like today
the sky was bright and wide and blue
and I wonder where you are
and if the pain ends when you die
Today my heart is big and sore
it's trying to push right through my skin
won't see you anymore
I guess that's finally sinking in.

Fall 1999
‘Don’t Drink & Drive’ signs posted for teen struck down in Sunnyside area

Ms Deffries places flowers on a "Please Don’t Drink and Drive" sign she unveiled Aug. 7 in the 5300 block of Sunnyside Boulevard in memory of her 14-year daughter, Nikki Deffries. Deffries was walking with a friend along the street on a night last April when a motorist who had been drinking struck and killed her. City officials worked with the mother, who urged others that like her daughter, you don’t need to be behind the wheel to become a fatality caused by drinking and driving. Some two dozen friends of the family and City staff attended the Saturday morning ceremony as well.

Swenson said that aside from Snohomish County and the Tulalip Tribes, Marysville is believed to be the first City to post personalized signs. "This is our first such memorial," Weiser says. "I pray it is our last."