HEARTBROKEN families from around Durban gathered at the park on Florida Road for Spiga restaurant’s annual commemorative Remember Me, event on World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDR).
The day is commemorated on the third Sunday of November each year, and pays tribute to the millions killed and injured on the world’s roads. It allows families, friends and loved ones an opportunity to thank emergency services for their assistance.
Caro Smit, director of South Africans Against Drunk Driving said the theme for 2016 was Vital Post-Crash Care.
“This theme relates to the Global Plan for the Decade of Action, for much needed improvements in the post-crash response. Proposed actions relate to the immediate time after a crash – to save lives and reduce severity of impact. They include:
Medical: Develop hospital trauma care systems and good practices and quality assurance on trauma care systems, provide early rehabilitation and support to the injured and bereaved to minimize both physical and psychological trauma. It is basically, getting the right patient to the right hospital, at the right time.”
Investigation: Encourage a thorough investigation into the crash as well as to the all-important issue of crash cause and response to it: “We at SADD ask for this to be done at every crash scene, and not only where five or more people die, every single person is important enough to warrant this. SADD is also asking for both drivers to be tested for alcohol and/or drugs at every crash scene,” she said.
Justice: The application of an effective legal response to road deaths and injuries and therefore fair settlements and justice for the bereaved and injured. This should include post traumatic counselling.
“One of our main mandates as a road safety organisation is fighting for the rights of victims and giving them a voice by raising awareness,” she added.
Spiga restaurant owner Marco Santoniccolo said, “This is an initiative close to my heart and this year was 10 years since my brother Luca lost his life in a head on collision on the Athlone bridge. I thank everyone who came on board, it is a team effort, SADD – South African Against Drunk Driving, the Road Traffic Management Corporation the Florida Road UIP.
“My message to everyone out there is to just don’t drink and drive. Remember your family before you think of driving intoxicated, there is no excuse there are so many options available now,” he said.
Lee Dwyer, mother of Berea cyclist Jared Dwyer told Berea Mail, each day was a heartbreaking reminder of life without her son. “Jared was such a beautiful boy, never had anything bad to say about anyone and always was so caring not just to his family but
strangers and even beggars,” she said in tears. Dwyer was killed along with fellow Kings Park Cycling Club cyclist Richard da Silva in a tragic crash on the M4 in February this year. Lee, together with the support of her husband Sandy and family, has been to court nine times since Jared’s death hoping for justice. To this day, no trial date has been set. The culpable homicide case is pending before the Durban Magistrate Court.
Another heartbroken mother, Suzette Ratcliffe, said while everyday without her son William was difficult, Saturday had been particularly difficult for the family especially for William’s brother James, who lost his big brother and best friend, and his baby sister Heather, who knows all about her brother but never met him. “I tell them we will see him again one day, and today when telling them about the Remember Me event they hoped that day was today,” she said through tears, adding, “I just have to remind them that day isn’t today, but one day we will meet him and be together.”
Tearfully recalling the incident, Suzette said, “William was just three years and ten months old. I had picked him and James up from school when a drunk driver who had been sitting at a pub all day thought it was a good idea to go home around five in the afternoon. I remember talking about how we were going to take William to the movies for the first time when suddenly the man turned into my car and our lives were changed forever!” Paramedics managed to revive young William at the scene but tragically he died in hospital a few hours later.
