HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) - After deadly car crashes, many families put up memorials, crosses or flowers to honor their loved ones. But now -- a new way to pay tribute.

One lawmaker in West Virginia got the idea while driving through another state.

Delegate Carol Miller was going through Virginia when she noticed a road sign warning drivers to be careful. And in the middle of the sign, it said it was in honor of someone killed in a crash.

That touched Delegate Miller and made her want to bring that same idea to West Virginia.

Each time Maxine Opell passes a memorial on her trip near Huntington she remembers her daughter.

Opell said, "It makes me sad, but I know that's the last place that she was alive on this earth."

Her daughter, Dustin, died when she crashed her car into a tractor trailer.

Now a white cross marks the spot where her young life ended.

She says "The people that didn't know her, you know, they'll know somebody was grieving over her. Just driving by and seeing something like that. Yes, some family is suffering, some family is grieving."

Sadly, these memorials are all too common, especially along this dangerous stretch of Interstate 64. each one represents a life tragically taken.

Michael Wooten said, "Now in addition to these makeshift memorials, one West Virginia lawmaker wants to allow grieving families to go a step farther and purchase one of these road signs that will be dedicated in the memory of their loved one."

Delegate Carol Miller says the road signs could be in addition to the typical crosses and flowers.

Delegate Miller said, "All this is doing is giving them an alternative. They can do this if they choose to do this."

Maxine Opell plans to purchase a sign, as a memorial to her daughter, and a message to others.

These signs would be $200 and they would be up for three years.

After that time, families could pay $200 more dollars for three more years.

After that time, families will get to keep the sign as a permanent memorial.

This bill must go through the house and senate and be signed by Governor Joe Manchin.

Delegate Miller hopes to have the program in effect by early next year.