At 11.34pm on the 16th May 2009 my life was changed forever. I received a phone call from an ambulance officer who called and asked me if I was Hayley’s mum, I said yes, she said Hayley has been in a very serious car accident. I said is she alright and the woman said no unfortunately we were unable to revive her.
I went to the crash site, I was on the side of the road with Hayley’s body in disbelief that this is happening. This is something that I live with every day. I live with the knowing that Hayley was terrified moments before she died that she wanted to get out of that car and he wouldn’t stop. He took her life in his hands and threw it away.
I was introduced to CARS by a police officer as I was searching for answers everywhere and I needed help, I met Bobbie Henry who has been the Ambassador for CARS for the last 20 years after losing her beautiful daughter Kelly to a drunk driver.
I have now been appointed as the new Ambassador for CARS and I have listened to many people who have lost loved ones or they have been seriously injured and CARS is here to help and support. Hayley my beautiful Daughter will never come home.
Judy Lindsay (Hayley’s Mum)
Kelly’s story
“ On 8th November 1998, I heard a knock at the door at 3am, I jumped out of bed to find two police officers standing at my door, who told me my 17 year old daughter had been killed in a car crash and they needed me to identify her body at the morgue.
That was without a doubt the most devastating day of my entire life.
As time went on, people thought that my pain over losing kelly should be easing however it didn’t. They couldn’t understand that when I lost a very large part of me. It hurt so bad. It was then that I found CARS, and with their support I survived.
When I realised my pain was never going to leave, I decided to try and help other families understand this feeling and know that this is normal. It’s ok to hurt. My life will never be the same, I accept that now.
Something I have learnt over the years is that with so many families losing loved ones or having them severely injured everyday, they may not realise it, but they do need help. CARS is here to help. ”
