Joe & Giro Raphael

My story

Our son Daniel was killed as a result of a visually impaired dangerous driver in June 2006. Daniel was hit from behind whilst he was stationary on his motor scooter. We did not receive a phone call or knock at the door, but happened to drive into the crash scene only to discover it was Daniel. He was in ICU overnight on life support to allow family to say goodbye.

Daniel was 20 years old, about to finish Uni and he had everything to live for, his girlfriend, his job, his surfing, his music, his soccer and his loving family. We are so proud of him, miss him immensley and forever love our beautiful boy. His 21st was at his grave. We think of him every minute of the day. So many reminders of him as he was killed 5 minutes away from home. We drive over the spot he lay dying and can't believe we are doing it. We replace his floral tribute on that spot every year at his anniversary. We had Daniel's funeral and 3 weeks after the coroner's tests we had to have a cremation for him as well due to a vital organ being returned . He was an innocent victim of an irresponsible driver. His only sibling, a sister is devastated. Our lives have changed and we will never be the same people ever.

After a 4 year battle with the court system the one eyed visually impaired courier driver with only partial vision in his remaining eye was aquitted on May 24th 2010 and is now back on the road. This has sent a poor message to the public being you can be hit from behind whilst stationary and be killed by a visually impaired driver who does not have face the consequence. What can we say to such injustice?

UPDATE 24TH March 2011.

After 6 more crashes by the same driver since our son's fatality and under much public pressure The South Australian Government has now revoked this drivers licence.