LIFE OF PAIN FOR CRASH FAMILIES

May 27 2007

FOR the parents of Julie Hutchison, a judge's decision to send her to jail for three years over a car crash was too harsh.

For the parents of Linzi Higgins, who was killed in the accident, three years is not long enough.

Ron and Lynne Hutchison are missing the daughter they feel should be with them, celebrating her 21st birthday.

But Linzi's parents would swap with them in a heartbeat.

They will never see their daughter again and want the person responsible for her death punished.

Helen Higgins cannot even bring herself to talk about her loss.

She is paying a terrible price for a car crash that should never have happened in the first place.

Last year we launched our Stop the Carnage campaign calling for ALL young driver to be put through the Pass Plus course and ALL new drivers to show P-plates for a year.

There is a good chance that if these rules had been in place two years ago the accident that killed Linzi would not have happened.

The Executive took a small step by offering free Pass Plus courses in the north-east. Now they must run it out across the country.

Meanwhile, we would call on all young people to read the harrowing story of Linzi and Julie.

Too much speed and not enough care kills.

And sentences loved ones to a lifetime of pain.