By Mark Dreger

Victims and surviving family members of people injured or killed in drunk driving accidents gathered in Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 Laurel Packinghouse Sunday for the MADD Central Okanagan Chapter91裸聊视频檚 fourth annual candlelight vigil.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a place for victims and survivors to come together to get some support and comfort, but most importantly it91裸聊视频檚 to pay tribute to their loved one that they91裸聊视频檝e lost,91裸聊视频� said Jillian Phillips, Victim Services Manager of Western Canada.

91裸聊视频淚 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 that91裸聊视频檚 entirely preventable.91裸聊视频�

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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91裸聊视频淚 personally want there to be more justice,91裸聊视频� said Debbie Dalke, who attended to remember her grandson who was killed by a drunk driver. 91裸聊视频淚 want there to be stiffer penalties; it91裸聊视频檚 just not fair.91裸聊视频�

Dalke91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淚 just wish that more people would attend,91裸聊视频� Dalke said. 91裸聊视频淚 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.91裸聊视频�

While the staggering statistics may be disheartening to some, Phillips says there are places to go for those grieving loss. 91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淚 have met people when I attend these that maybe didn91裸聊视频檛 know about the national conference that we hold for victims and survivors each April,91裸聊视频� Phillips said. 91裸聊视频淎nd there91裸聊视频檚 a few people here today that after we made contact last year came to that last April and they all say how much it91裸聊视频檚 helped them.91裸聊视频�

When asked what others should do when they see others about to drive after drinking, Dalke didn91裸聊视频檛 hesitate to express the seriousness of drinking and driving.

91裸聊视频淚f you91裸聊视频檙e a true friend you would do your best to get them to not drive if they91裸聊视频檝e been drinking,91裸聊视频� Dalke said. 91裸聊视频淭ake away their keys, threaten you91裸聊视频檙e going to turn them in, call the cops on them or something. Something has to be done about it; there91裸聊视频檚 just too much of it going on and they91裸聊视频檙e not accountable for their actions and it91裸聊视频檚 so sad.91裸聊视频�

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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