Thanks to those who helped at a traumatic time

On Aug. 11, 2017, our daughter, from Winnipeg, was visiting with friends, when she was seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident in Portugal Cove. While being a traumatic time for her and an extremely anxious, sleepless and stressful time for her family and friends, we are eternally grateful to many wonderful people in your community.

We would like to thank your community’s emergency services, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, paramedics and fire department, for their quick response and professionalism in providing care and taking control of an extremely emotional situation.

Thank you to the surgeons, doctors, nurses, nurses aides, and all the rest of the staff of the Health Sciences Centre who provided excellent medical attention and kept us informed even though we were so far away. Thank you to those fantastic citizens who took the time to stop and offer aid and assistance, give statements, and for getting involved to make sure the driver that caused the accident remained at the scene. Finally, to my daughter’s two friends who, while being injured and shaken up themselves, stayed close to my daughter calming and comforting her during and after the accident, thank you so much. You are all shining examples of the goodness and light that can be found in human nature and the great potential of the human spirit.

However, where there is light there is also darkness. To the suspended driver who sped through the stop sign, the people who supported and allowed him to commit this act and to the people who turn a blind eye or who think that driving while suspended is no big deal, we can only offer you our anger, contempt and pity.

It is our hope that the legal system can evolve into a justice system and hand down a fair and just sentence. But more importantly, we hope and pray that the good citizens of St. John’s look at their own children or their own loved ones and imagine the pain and hurt that such a stupid, selfish and callous act, would cause them. After considering those consequences, then and only then, render your own judgment of this person and others like him in the court of public opinion. Everett and Michele Eichler Winnipeg