By Mark Dreger

Victims and surviving family members of people injured or killed in drunk driving accidents gathered in Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 Laurel Packinghouse Sunday for the MADD Central Okanagan Chapter香蕉视频直播檚 fourth annual candlelight vigil.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a place for victims and survivors to come together to get some support and comfort, but most importantly it香蕉视频直播檚 to pay tribute to their loved one that they香蕉视频直播檝e lost,香蕉视频直播� said Jillian Phillips, Victim Services Manager of Western Canada.

香蕉视频直播淚 just hope that when people see this and see the message that they never have to know what that feels like; they never have to come to an event like this because it is honestly the most soul-destroying thing to lose your loved ones through something that香蕉视频直播檚 entirely preventable.香蕉视频直播�

Canada ranks No. 1 among the 19 wealthy countries in the world for roadway deaths attributed to alcohol. On average just under four Canadians are killed and roughly 175 are injured each day due to alcohol and drug related crashes.

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香蕉视频直播淚 personally want there to be more justice,香蕉视频直播� said Debbie Dalke, who attended to remember her grandson who was killed by a drunk driver. 香蕉视频直播淚 want there to be stiffer penalties; it香蕉视频直播檚 just not fair.香蕉视频直播�

Dalke香蕉视频直播檚 18-year-old grandson Travis was killed in Edmonton. He was only two minutes away from his home when he was struck by a drunk driver going over three times the speed limit.

香蕉视频直播淚 just wish that more people would attend,香蕉视频直播� Dalke said. 香蕉视频直播淚 know there are lots of people out there and it would be nice for them to come and maybe just have that comfort and feeling that there are others out here.香蕉视频直播�

While the staggering statistics may be disheartening to some, Phillips says there are places to go for those grieving loss. 香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚 have met people when I attend these that maybe didn香蕉视频直播檛 know about the national conference that we hold for victims and survivors each April,香蕉视频直播� Phillips said. 香蕉视频直播淎nd there香蕉视频直播檚 a few people here today that after we made contact last year came to that last April and they all say how much it香蕉视频直播檚 helped them.香蕉视频直播�

When asked what others should do when they see others about to drive after drinking, Dalke didn香蕉视频直播檛 hesitate to express the seriousness of drinking and driving.

香蕉视频直播淚f you香蕉视频直播檙e a true friend you would do your best to get them to not drive if they香蕉视频直播檝e been drinking,香蕉视频直播� Dalke said. 香蕉视频直播淭ake away their keys, threaten you香蕉视频直播檙e going to turn them in, call the cops on them or something. Something has to be done about it; there香蕉视频直播檚 just too much of it going on and they香蕉视频直播檙e not accountable for their actions and it香蕉视频直播檚 so sad.香蕉视频直播�

According to MADD Canada, crashes involving alcohol and/or drugs are the leading criminal cause of death in Canada. In 2012, 1,497 (58.8 per cent) of crash deaths involved drivers who had some alcohol and/or drugs in their systems.

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