FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 23, 2005

CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-896-8409

 

 SCDPS PRESENTS PARTNERSHIP AWARDS TO MOTHERS

WHO HAVE LOST CHILDREN ON SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAYS

 

COLUMBIA - The South Carolina Department of Public Safety recognized six mothers on Wednesday for their efforts over the past year to make our highways safer by sharing the stories of losing their children in motor vehicle collisions in South Carolina.  

 

Last year, the Highway Patrol created a safety curriculum to use during safety presentations at schools, civic clubs and other venues. Five of the women shared their stories of losing their children as part of this curriculum.

 

“When we videotaped their stories, I don’t think we could have possibly imagined how moved people would be by these women’s testimonials,” said DPS Director James K. Schweitzer. “Losing a child is a parent’s worst fear, and these women live that reality every day. We sincerely hope that by hearing their stories, others will rethink their driving habits and parents will realize how closely they need to work with teen drivers to ensure their safety.”

 

Lisa Radvansky, of Columbia, visited the Highway Patrol in 2003 shortly after her teen-age son, Chad, was killed. Mrs. Radvansky began a partnership with the Highway Patrol to educate others about the importance of safety belt use and other issues. Mrs. Radvansky’s visit led to the creation of the Highway Patrol Fatality Memorial Web site that offers family members of highway fatality victims a chance to post a memorial to their loved ones killed in motor vehicle collisions http://www.schp.org/inmemoryof/.

 

To read the individual stories of the families involved in the SCDPS curriculum, please see the links below:

 

Joy Batchelor, lost her three sons, Ashton, Brandon and Drew, in a collision in Aiken in 2002:

http://www.schp.org/inmemoryof/Profile.aspx?Id=241&Year=2002

http://www.schp.org/inmemoryof/Profile.aspx?Id=242&Year=2002

http://www.schp.org/inmemoryof/Profile.aspx?Id=243&Year=2002

 

Carol Kiparisus lost her son, John Charles Gregory Jr., in 2003 in Lexington:

http://www.schp.org/inmemoryof/Profile.aspx?Id=173&Year=2003

 

Sue Chittick lost her son, Collin, in 2002 in Newberry:

http://www.schp.org/inmemoryof/Profile.aspx?Id=159&Year=2002

 

Lisa Radvansky lost her son, Chad, in 2003 in Marion:

http://www.schp.org/inmemoryof/Profile.aspx?Id=127&Year=2003

 

Shirley Hasting lost her son, Steven Bayford, in 2003 in Ladson: http://www.schp.org/inmemoryof/Profile.aspx?Id=258&Year=2003

 

Robin Sweatman lost her daughter, Jaime, in 2004 in Berkeley (Robin’s daughter was killed after the curriculum was created but she has been instrumental in assisting the Highway Patrol with safety education):

http://www.schp.org/inmemoryof/Profile.aspx?Id=327&Year=2004

 

Media: To talk with the mothers or to view the safety curriculum, please contact your local CRO by calling 803-896-8144.

 

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