In the News

Sobering memories at RIDE launch
The Hamilton Spectator
December 5, 2009

Marlene Romanoski struggled for words to describe the horrific impact of losing her son to a drunk driver.

Tears flowed. Her voice quavered. She apologized as she wrestled with her composure.

It was all she could do to grip the podium yesterday and do her part to drive home a message at the start of the annual Hamilton police holiday RIDE program against drinking and driving.

But the Hamilton woman does it for Freddie, her son who was killed in York Region 18 months ago.

"Impaired driving kills," Romanoski said.

"People making that choice, to drink and drive, ruin lives including their own."

A drunken friend drove his car off the road and then fled on foot with another passenger, leaving Freddie to die. At his trial, he claimed Freddie was driving but DNA from blood on the steering wheel convicted him.

The young driver got two years in jail. Freddie, 33, who was about to become a father, lost his life.

Since then, his mother has suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, can't work, breaks down easily and re-lives the moments when her daughter had to tell her the terrible news.

But she goes on, helping Hamilton police Sergeant Oliver Mann, president of Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) Canada's Hamilton Chapter, get the word out.

Police Chief Brian Mullan got the word out too: Police are out in force. So far this year, Hamilton police have stopped 120,000 cars in RIDE campaigns.

Despite this, four people have died in traffic collisions in Hamilton in which impaired driving was involved.

MADD Canada also presented the Hamilton police with two new breath testers worth $7,200 each.

The new machines will be on the road shortly.

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