A SOBERING REMINDER
Relatives unveil the first roadside memorial sign in the province at the site where four members of the Van de Vorst family were killed by a drunk driver in January 2016.
The names of a family of four who were killed by a drunk driver will serve as a warning to drivers passing by the site of their deaths.
Government, police and MADD Canada officials joined the Van de Vorst family on Tuesday to unveil Saskatchewan’s first official roadside memorial to victims of impaired driving.
“It’s a big sign,” Lou Van de Vorst told reporters. “People will see it, and I hope when people look at it they will realize why that sign is there ...
“It’s such an easy thing to do, to take one drink too many and then get behind the wheel of your car. And it’s so easy to do, and it’s always better to make sure you have a good plan before you have a drink. So that’s what I would like to have people think about and really consider before they start drinking, before they go out for the night. Have a plan.”
His son Jordan Van De Vorst, Jordan’s wife Chanda, their twoyear-old son Miguire and their five-year-old daughter Kamryn died Jan. 3, 2016, when Catherine Loye McKay crashed into them while crossing Highway 11 from Wanuskewin Road. McKay later pleaded guilty to four counts of impaired driving causing death and received a 10-year sentence and a 12-year driving ban.
He and his wife Linda think about the family every day, Lou Van De Vorst said.
“We still love them just as much now as when they were gone. Now, the only time we see them is on a picture.”
Linda urged everyone to take away people’s keys, call 911 or delay them from leaving — whatever has to be done — if they’ve been drinking.
“We all have a choice to make. And when we see someone who is making a choice that could really be detrimental to their health, or someone else’s health, and risk losing their family or someone else’s family, then make a stand,” she said.
“Please help everyone get a safe ride home. We want you live, we want you to have your families and your loved ones. We wish we could have ours back — that was taken from us. So we want everyone else to realize you could lose yours too if you don’t stand up and make a decision to do something proactive.”