Kirstey Whicker’s tears for young family’s drink driving pain
Kirstey Whicker’s life was changed forever by a drunk driver. Her story of survival and heartbreak is essential reading for all motorists in the wake of the Oatlands tragedy.
National
Don't miss out on the headlines from National. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Parents of drunk driver accused of killing four children devastated
- Subscriber rewards: Win Adelaide Oval Stadium Club memberships
On September 8, 1996, after attending a 21st at Walkerville, Kirstey Whicker, then 24, was waiting for a taxi when she was hit by a drunk driver, who then drove away.
On January the following year, Nicole Kate Bosisto, 21, who was also a guest at the party, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.
She received a suspended sentence, was banned from driving for a decade and ordered to perform 50 hours of community service with brain-injured road accident victims.
Waiting with Kirstey were Nadine Bernoth, Sally Phillips and Nerida Jaggard, who suffered grazing, a bruised shoulder and broken bones.
Kirstey suffered severe head injuries, three broken ribs, a fractured collarbone, a broken leg and torn leg and shoulder ligaments.
Resuscitated three times in the ambulance on the way to Royal Adelaide Hospital, Kirstey was placed in an induced coma and unconscious for close to six months.
While doctors had said she would never walk or talk again, Kirstey made a remarkable recovery during the five years that followed.
— Anna Vlach
For me, the words “drunk driver” are like a red rag to a bull.
Almost 24 years ago, drunk driver Nicole Kate Bosisto nearly ended my life when she hit three of my friends and me. She then drove off.
This week my long-held fury has been replaced by a broken heart for the parents of those four beautiful innocent children in Sydney, who were killed when hit by drunk driver Samuel William Davidson.
The fact that they were kids with their whole lives ahead of them brought me to tears.
But it also brought a feeling of guilt.
That is because despite how hard it has been for me to learn to walk and talk again, and regain a normal life, at least I am still here. Tragically, Sienna, Angelina, Antony and Veronique are not.
Every time it happens, we all say: “Oh no, when are they going to fix up the drink driving laws; make it harder for offenders …” But it just keeps happening.
Is lowering the blood alcohol limit from 0.5 to zero the answer?
Perhaps in some cases it is.
But what if Mum and Dad take the kids out for a birthday dinner and they drink no alcohol, but have Tiramisu for dessert followed by an Irish coffee?
Despite not specifically drinking alcohol, they will definitely blow above zero.
Then there’s Aunty Sue, who is taking medication and can’t drink.
But what if that medication has alcohol in it? She will no longer have a zero alcohol reading either.
The majority of drink driving offenders regret their actions, but people still drink and drive.
For about 20 years, I have spoken to school kids about how I persevered to recover and never gave up and to university students about how to get the best out of someone undergoing neurological rehabilitation.
On every single occasion, I make sure they know that my life was virtually destroyed by a drunk driver. I just hope that sinks in.
And what about Nicole who hit my friends and me? For close to 20 years, every time there is mention of me and my recovery, there is also reference to her and what she did.
Even when I travelled to Deakin University in Geelong a few years ago to graduate and receive my Arts Degree in freelance journalism, her name came up.
Tough for her? Always remembered as the drunk driver who nearly killed me and injured my friends?
Maybe, but she can walk and talk, and not be noticed.
Unfortunately, my slurred speech and limping gait do not afford me the same. At least she can work.
Just before the accident I was regularly flying to Sydney to work in public relations for Vogue Australia.
Had I not been hit, I could have had a career. This is one of my greatest regrets, but it is always overtaken by my gratitude that I am still here.
None of us is invincible. However, we all think we are. I always thought: “Oh, it’ll never happen to me.” Just like most drink drivers think: “Oh, I’ll be fine”.
Samuel William Davidson probably thought that before he got behind the wheel and allegedly hit those children. Now four beautiful innocent lives are gone and more than one family is grieving.
Drink driving is never EVER worth it.
Originally published as Kirstey Whicker’s tears for young family’s drink driving pain