In the News

Standing up against impaired driving
The Daily News
By Ellwood Shreve
May 18, 2010

Impaired driving not only takes lives, it can also leave survivors dealing with physical and emotional problems.

Sarah Vanderlinden, 24, still suffers from the effects of being hit by a drunk driver on Feb. 6, 2008 while driving in London around 7 p.m.

The London resident, whose family lives in Chatham, suffered a fractured ankle and still receives treatment for her neck, which was injured in the crash, and continues to cause her severe headaches.

"It's not fun," Vanderlinden said. "You feel like you're an old person and you're only 24."

She was among the 100 or so people taking part in the first MADD Chatham-Kent's Strides for Change walk-a-thon held Sunday at Tecumseh Park. The event raised more than $4,800.
Vanderlinden, who received assistance from the London MADD chapter, took part in that organization's walk-a-thon last year. She also participated in a Toronto MADD event three weeks ago.

"It's great to see something in Chatham," said Vanderlinden, who was one of the volunteers carrying a banner to lead the walk.
Organizers were pleased with the turnout.

"It's great for the first event," said Janine Carr, co-president of the local MADD chapter.

She noted they have been trying to organize this kind of event for a few years, adding the timing was right, including having enough volunteers.

Heather Bakker, MADD Chatham-Kent co-president, said all the money raised remains in the community for education, awareness and promotion activities.

Recent tragedies brought out the families of the Pie Ladies -- Verna Neaves, Marion Dawson, Bernice Phillips and Jean Ripley -- and Mason Berube and Devon Tinus, both 12, all local residents killed by impaired drivers.

Larry Neaves, son of Verna Neaves, and his wife Bonnie and daughter Amy, along with some of his grandchildren took part in the walk.

Larry Neaves, who was glad to see this type of event held, hopes people are finally getting the message about drinking and driving.

He believes the recent law implemented to hand out three-day licence suspensions for drivers who have .5 blood-alcohol concentration "is a good step."

However, his wife doesn't agree enough people are getting the message about the dangers of driving drunk.

Bonnie Neaves points to the number of impaired driving incidents still being reported in the media, locally.

However, one thing she is encouraged by is the eight-year sentence recently handed to Andrew Kummer, the London man convicted of impaired driving in the crash that took the lives of Berube and Tinus.

"Hopefully that sets a precedent," she said.

"Hopefully, that will send a message to others."

She still can't believe Wladyslaw Bilski only received a four-year sentence for his impaired driving conviction, for causing the head-on crash that resulted in the death of her mother-in-law and her friends. "It was so horrific," she said.