Two days after Christmas in 2013, a family’s life was changed forever when Kathleen Heraghty - a mother, wife and midwife - was cycling on Inman Valley Road when she was killed in a hit and run.
Ms Heraghty, 48, was training for the Victor Harbor Triathlon. She died after her bike was hit from behind by a car on a straight stretch of road in broad daylight. Her husband was riding behind her and arrived 10 minutes after she was hit.
Behind the wheel of the car was Samantha Magdaleine Farrer, who had not slept for 24 hours and was under the influence of drugs. In the past week she was sentenced to at least three years in jail, despite the fact she now has a one-year-old son.
The consequences of that one decision – whether to drive or not – resulted in many lives being tragically changed forever. There is the grief of Ms Heraghty’s family and friends. And then there is the affect on Ms Farrer’s one-year-old boy.
The tragedy is an example of a dark issue in our community, which is not only people using drugs, but completely flouting safety, common sense and the law by driving while high or drunk.
It is a systemic failure of human behaviour and it is putting road users in danger. Each week the police inform The Times of drink-driving and drug-driving arrests, which are a regular occurrence on Fleurieu Roads. When jumping in the driver’s seat, it is easy to think that nothing will go wrong. Whether it is a couple of beers at the pub, taking drugs, or a whole night without sleep, the driver should always ask themselves, “should I really be driving?”
In the morning leading up to the accident, the last thought on Ms Farrer’s mind would have been the possibility of adversely changing her life, the lives of others, and the life of her son – despite the fact that she had been up all night at a party and decided to take drugs.
It is a scary thought that in a moment of weakness, tiredness, or influence of drugs or alcohol, a driver can make a life-shattering decision that could affect more than just themselves.
In the lead up to summer, The Times is embarking on a road safety campaign with a series of stories that will commence in the November 14 edition.
If you have a story to tell about your experience with road safety on the Fleurieu email our journalists at victortimes@fairfaxmedia.com.au
