STAND for Hannah: Stand Together Against Negligent Driving
Our Focus
According to Transport Canada's National Collision Database, from 2016-2018 there has been on average 1,892 fatalities and 10,055 serious injuries due to motor vehicle collision. 566 of these fatalities, like Hannah, did not get to see their 20’s. STAND for Hannah Foundation is working to increase awareness of the dangers of negligent driving, educate on prevention and safety to hopefully lower these statistics, as well as strengthen provincial legislation to ensure negligent drivers are held accountable. Families everywhere are affected by negligent driving, they fight untold battles, and face injustices. We all need to take a STAND for those we love when it comes to reckless driving.
Change
Feature Story: Rachel Burry
As I sort through my fondest childhood memories, Hannah Thorne proves to be a prominent figure in the story of my life. Since before our first steps, my sisters and I had shared a close relationship with Hannah and her brother Cody. Our families spent countless hours together, enjoying the simplest pleasures in life, and this relationship provided me with a sense of closeness and comfort that I will always cherish. We have been and always will be family.
I remember the day of her passing in more detail than I care to. The words leaving my father’s mouth, “Hannah has been killed in a car accident.” An impairing sense of shock and disbelief washed over me. Her life was there in one moment, real and tangible, and then it was gone. It was difficult to adopt the idea that I would never see her face again. I will never forget how overwhelmingly unforgivable and unjust life felt during that time.
Hannah was an incredibly personable friend who had the potential to charm any and all with her wit and sense of humility. Her persona stood out among anyone I have ever come to know, and she was a sister to me in many ways. She was unique and humorous, and she cared for animals like no other. I will never forget her hand-me-down-clothes, and how excited I would be to wear what she wore- because I admired her so much and hoped that I could be like her, even in such a small way.
Feature Story: Ashley George
The saying “you never think it’ll happen to you until it does” can’t be more true. I never thought that I’d be with my best friends sobbing in each others arms over losing one of us. I never thought I’d have to pick out what black dress I should wear to a friend’s funeral as a teenager. I never thought I’d have to hide outside a courtroom, away from cameras and reporters while having a panic attack all because I made eye contact with the men that took our girl away from us. The day we lost her was a whirlwind. I remember nothing, but everything at the same time. I even remember what earrings I wore that day and I’ll never put them on ever again. I remember feeling so numb, but also feeling the worst pain I’ve ever felt in my life. I remember crying in the arms of one of my best friends as we met up after we got the news, and just simply trying to hold up each other’s body weight from falling on the ground and losing it all together. I remember driving in pure silence to meet with the rest of the girls. The kind of car rides that normally had music blasting through the windows, and had us singing at the top of our lungs. Pure silence. I remember everybody knowing she was gone, but nobody wanting to say the words. I couldn’t drive myself for weeks, and even still suffer with extreme driving anxiety.
I’m constantly worrying about my friends dying. I don’t trust other people on the road. I’m constantly on edge. Because when you’re little, you think that you’re invincible, and that only “old people” die. But after Hannah’s life was taken away so fast, I’m worried about everybody I love getting ripped away from me. When you make reckless choices behind the wheel, you don’t understand how many lives you have under your control. The pain of Hannah’s death rippled through her entire family, friends, neighbours, communities, schools, churches, the province, etc. It’s an endless road of pain and heartache. There’s no bringing her back.
We want to spread awareness because we don’t want anybody to understand the feelings that we have gone through, and we don’t want other people to lose “their Hannah”. So please, don’t take driving for granted. You are not invincible. And you are playing with other people’s lives when you don’t take it seriously.
Love you forever Hannah.
CBC Documentary
Hannah Thorne, 18, was killed when two men drag raced on a highway in eastern Newfoundland. Her family and friends remember her life — and advocate for change. Documentary directed by Roger Maunder
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