Jane Evans

The sudden and unexpected loss of a loved one is heart-wrenching and almost impossible to describe. To say: “See you later,” as you leave for work, but “see you” never happens ever again. 

Road deaths impact families in such a cruel way because so many could be avoided.

Speed kills and some drivers turn their cars into killing machines through dangerous driving.

And then there is the hit-and-run.

On January 20th 2004, my husband was using a zebra crossing when he was hit by a speeding car.

The driver did not stop to see whether he could help a fellow human being lying in the road. His immediate reaction was to save his own skin.

The car was driven to a quiet road where it was torched. A pick-up truck came and towed the car away and then it disappeared into the depths of a scrap yard. No one was found in relation to this horrendous incident.

My husband hated cars and was always careful around them, which made his death even crueller. The lack of compassion shown by hit-and-run drivers is abhorrent.

As I tried to navigate my way through what had happened, I was contacted by a member from RoadPeace. She helped guide me through some of the many practical things that needed to be done.

In time, I began to do voluntary work for RoadPeace. It was good to be with people who understood what my family and I were going through.

When Sir Walter Raleigh’s son was killed, he wrote to his wife, ‘God knows, I never knew what sorrow meant till now…my brains are broken and it’s a torment to me to write.’

On the January 20th 2004, I finally understood his words