THE MOTHER of a 19-year-old man, killed in a Sebastopol crash a year ago, said her family was devastated that no charges had yet been laid over his death.
And she has warned other young people to think twice before getting into a car with a driver who has been drinking.
Kiefer Wilson died in hospital on February 5, 2011, hours after the car in which he was a passenger slammed into a tree in Hertford Street, Sebastopol, just before 11pm.
The 28-year old driver of the car, allegedly driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.092, fled after the accident but surrendered himself to police several hours later.
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Kiefer’s mother Joanne Van Gaans said investigators had “done a fantastic effort” but charges had yet to be laid a year later.
“I wanted to come and speak up so other people won’t have to go through what we have in the last year,” she said.
“Young people need to think about who they get into cars with – if someone had told Kiefer not to get into a car with that driver, he might be still here today.”
Mrs Van Gaans cried as she said the driver had tried to pull another passenger into the driver’s seat before fleeing.
“We’ve all had to live with this for a year already, and he’s got nine brothers and sisters and huge family and friends, and I want everyone to be aware not to get into a car,” she said.
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A Victoria Police spokesperson said that the investigation was continuing and charges were expected to be laid “very soon” in relation to the case.
In a memorial notice to run in The Courier this weekend, Mrs Van Gaans described her family as having heavy hearts, “our purpose in our lives unclear for how do we go on without you in it.”
Friends of Kiefer Wilson plan to drive a convoy of cars past the scene of the accident to mark the first anniversary of his death this weekend. “I feel gutted still and don’t know if I will ever feel the same as I did before he died,” Mrs Van Gaans said.
“No parent should have to bury their own child and go through this kind of pain.”
The Victoria Police Major Collision Investigation Unit has conducted an investigation into the crash, which also left two other passengers with serious injuries.
Two days after the accident police said the driver, who received minor injuries, was expected to be charged with several traffic offences.
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