Pasadena journalist, famous novelist make film about rising deaths from car crashes

Torrance High School junior Valentina d’Alessandro dreamed of becoming a fashion designer.

But that dream turned into a nightmare at 1:45 a.m. on Dec. 7, 2013, when the driver of the car she was riding in challenged a co-worker to a street race. He pounded the gas pedal, reaching 80 mph before running a red light and crashing, killing Valentina instantly.

Five months later her mom, Lili Trujillo Puckett, started the group Street Racing Kills, which educates youth and adults about the dangers of reckless driving, including street racing, complete with court-ordered diversion classes for offenders.

Trulio is now advocationg for a powerful new documentary, Power Trip, is sparking conversations about the rising death toll from car crashes across the United States. Released on March 10, 2025, the film confronts the culture of speed, reckless driving, and the influence of media and advertising on dangerous road behavior.

The timing of the release was eerily fitting—on the same day, a crash in North Hills, California, left four injured, including one person in serious condition. This tragic coincidence underscores the film's urgent message.

A Personal Tragedy Sparks a Mission

One of the most moving stories featured in Power Trip is that of Lili Trujillo Puckett, who turned personal loss into a mission for change. In 2013, her daughter, Valentina d’Alessandro, was killed when the driver of the car she was in initiated a street race, running a red light at 80 mph. The crash ended Valentina’s life and shattered her dreams of becoming a fashion designer.

Months later, Trujillo Puckett founded the nonprofit Street Racing Kills to educate youth and adults about the dangers of reckless driving. She also hosts court-ordered diversion classes for offenders.

"She gave me this [nonprofit] and this way, I can be with her. Plus, I didn’t want this to happen to anyone else," said Trujillo Puckett.
Her organization has become a beacon of hope and advocacy, helping families cope with loss while actively working to prevent future tragedies.

The Vision Behind Power Trip

The film was directed by Myron Levin, a veteran journalist from Pasadena who reported on traffic safety for the Los Angeles Times and later founded the investigative news outlet FairWarning. Power Trip is his call to action, highlighting an alarming statistic: 42,000 driving deaths occur each year in the United States, with roughly a third linked to unsafe speeds.

"Far more Americans died in road crashes than in all the wars combined. Yet, this is barely a blip on the public radar," Levin said.
Levin’s passion for the project was supported by his friend, Michael Connelly, the bestselling crime novelist, who served as the film’s executive producer. The documentary is narrated by Peter Coyote, known for his work in Ken Burns’ historical documentaries.

A Culture of Speed and Risk

Power Trip doesn’t shy away from criticizing the automobile industry, particularly its marketing strategies that glorify speed and power. The film features clips from car commercials showcasing vehicles racing at breakneck speeds, drifting around sharp corners, and tearing through urban landscapes.

"What happens when you make power your thing above everything? You decide fast is never fast enough," the film’s narrator states, as images of cars barreling across bridges and mountains fill the screen.

The documentary cites advertisements that boast vehicles capable of reaching speeds over 140 mph—an alarming reality when such speeds are neither safe nor legal on public roads.

"There is no reason we should have vehicles on our roads capable of doing 140 mph," said Damian Kevitt, executive director of the nonprofit Streets Are For Everyone (SAFE), who also appears in the film.

Kevitt’s personal story is one of resilience and advocacy. In 2017, he was hit by a van while cycling, dragged under the vehicle, and left for dead. He survived but lost his right leg. His experience led him to found SAFE and organize public events, including "die-ins" to draw attention to the dangers faced by pedestrians and cyclists.

 
The Broader Impact of Reckless Driving

The statistics are sobering. Traffic deaths in the U.S. surged by 30% between 2014 and 2022, and while some predict a slight decline in 2023 and 2024, the numbers remain alarmingly high.

In Los Angeles, traffic fatalities crossed the 300 mark in 2022—a record high in two decades. Pedestrian deaths rose 19%, and cyclist deaths jumped by 24%.

Kevitt believes society has become desensitized to traffic violence.

"As a society, we have become used to traffic violence as a part of life," he said.
 
Can Fast Car Ads Really Influence Behavior?

While Levin acknowledges there’s limited research proving that fast-car commercials directly cause reckless driving, the film argues that these messages shape cultural attitudes—especially among young male drivers, who statistically take more risks and account for a significant portion of fatal crashes.

"When behavior is exciting, we might want to imitate it. Young males take more risks and suffer the highest rate of crash deaths," said Michael Brooks, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, in the film.
Despite reaching out to a dozen car manufacturers, Levin said none agreed to comment for the documentary.

A Mission for Awareness and Change

Trujillo Puckett continues to speak at seminars and diversion classes, sharing her personal loss and inviting others impacted by reckless driving to tell their stories.

"I love what [Levin] did. It is awesome. I hope it is going to be of help," she said.
Levin, too, hopes the film will spark meaningful conversations and action. He's pursuing interviews with podcasts and plans to distribute the documentary to driver education programs across the country.

"I hope this film helps stimulate conversation about this preventable tragedy that happens all the time," Levin said.
 
Watch the Film and Join the Conversation
Power Trip is now available to stream on YouTube and at www.powertripfilm.com.

This powerful documentary is more than a film—it's a wake-up call. One that challenges viewers to reconsider the culture of speed and recklessness on American roads, and to advocate for safer streets for everyone.

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