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Woman who fronted famous anti drink-driving campaign dies

The woman who became known worldwide for anti drink-driving campaigns in the early 2000s, after her face was severely burned in a car crash, has died at the age of 40.

Jacqueline Saburido was just 20 years old when she was a passenger in a car headed home from a party, in September 1999.

The face of campaigns against drunk driving, Jacqueline Saburido has died at the age of 40. Source: Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission
The face of campaigns against drunk driving, Jacqueline Saburido has died at the age of 40. Source: Faces of Drunk Driving - TxDOT

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission‏ on Monday confirmed the woman’s death, saying she “used her life-changing injuries to help tell others about the dangers of drunk driving”.

At the time of the crash, doctors did not expect the young woman would survive after the car she was trapped in was hit by a drunk driver near Lake Travis, in central Texas, US.

The face of campaigns against drunk driving, Jacqueline Saburido has died at the age of 40. Source: Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission
Jacqueline Saburido became trapped in the car that caught on fire, burning 60 per cent her body. Source: Faces of Drunk Driving - TxDOT

The driver of the other vehicle had drifted across the centre strip, hitting Ms Saburido's car head on.

The vehicle caught fire, and Ms Saburido became trapped in the inferno, causing burns to 60 per cent her of her body, according to Fox News.

The drunk driver and another passenger in Ms Saburido's car died at the scene.

The young woman used her tragic experience to become the face of anti drink-driving campaigns, to warn others about the dangers of drinking and driving.

Her story was reportedly told to more than 1 billion people all over the world, according to TxDOT's Faces of Drunk Driving Campaign.

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