Road crash survivors, backed by 6000-signature petition, call for change in wake of Sophia Naismith case

The families of road crash victims are sick of being ignored. They want the government to heed 6000 signatures and act in the wake of Sophia Naismith’s death.

The families of road crash victims have thrown their support behind Sophia Naismith’s family – along with a 6000-signature strong public petition calling for immediate change.

On Thursday, Alexander Damian Campbell was acquitted of causing Sophia’s death by dangerous driving, and will be sentenced instead for aggravated driving without due care.

In the wake of the District Court verdict, the Naismith family called for new laws to end ongoing inconsistencies in the handling of fatal road crash cases.

Their plea for change drew immediate support from Lauren Ralph, whose sister Abigail was killed by a reckless driver in 2003. She said she was devastated for the Naismiths.

Ms Ralph, who co-founded the Road To Justice campaign with The Advertiser, said more than 6000 people had already signed a petition calling for tougher laws.

Lauren Ralph survived the car crash that killed her sister, Abigail, when she was 12 and Abigail was nine. Picture: Tricia Watkinson.

Abigail Ralph. Picture: Supplied

“My very first thought, upon hearing the verdict, was: ‘How? How can this keep happening?’,” she said.

“My deepest thoughts go out to them … I know the ricochet effect these crashes have on the lives of parents, of family and especially the children involved.

“It really feels like very little happens to offenders in terms of what the public considers justice, and that the system is very much in the offender’s favour.”

She said the Malinauskas government needed to break the cycle of successive state governments and bring about immediate legislative change.

ROAD TO JUSTICE: CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION

“I’m just astounded that even after the efforts and advocacy of so many people, over so many years, government after government has stood by and done nothing,” she said.

“I just don’t understand it.”

The Naismiths also have the support of Lynette and Leigh Lyall, whose children Troy and Shanae were killed in the same crash in October 2011.

Like Campbell, that driver – Adrian O’Daniel – was sentenced for aggravated driving without due care, receiving a two-year suspended sentence and 18-month driving ban.

Lynette and Leigh Lyall outside the Adelaide Magistrates Court. Picture: Greg Higgs

On Friday, Mrs Lyall said she and her husband had petitioned successive state governments for change four times – most recently in January last year – with little success.

The former Liberal government was prepared to shift only slightly, heeding their wish to have alleged killer drivers banned from the roads as soon as they are charged.

“I read the story of the Naismiths, my heart broke and I thought ‘here we go again, here’s another family that can see the bloody big gaps in the system,” she said.

“What is it going to take for politicians to actually take some responsibility for what’s going on in our laws and make the necessary changes?

“What needs to happen to make them understand, to make them act?

“I feel so deeply for the Naismith family, they have our support, and I hope they get further with their push than we did with ours.”