More than 1,700 people lost their lives in North Carolina traffic crashes in 2007, and this holiday season they will be remembered with shimmering lights on a "Tree of Life" to be displayed on the lawn of the State Capitol.

Presented by the Governor's Highway Safety Program, the "Tree of Life" will be lit at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5, by GHSP Director Darrell Jernigan, National President of Mothers Against Drunk Driving Laura Dean-Mooney and Julie Murray of Apex. Murray's sister, Christine McGinty and her fiancée, Dan Wiggins, were killed in a crash caused by an impaired driver in November 2005.

The tree will be illuminated by 1,705 lights representing the number of people fatally injured last year on North Carolina roadways. While the majority of the lights will be white, 489 of them will be red to remember those killed in alcohol-related crashes.

Victims of impaired drivers will also be honored by MADD during its annual Candlelight Vigil. Immediately following the vigil, MADD will host its annual Law Enforcement/Prosecutor Awards ceremony and reception at the Legislative Building Auditorium.

The East Wake Academy Singers of Zebulon will perform during the ceremony. The "Tree of Life" will remain on display at the State Capitol through Jan. 5, 2009. The Craig Moss Family of Wilson donated the tree for this purpose.