The stepfather of the young man killed on Wednesday when he was waiting at a bus stop in Surrey is no stranger to heartbreak.
Greg Drew lost his 17-year-old son Jay in a car crash in 2003.
His stepson, 22-year-old Evan Archibald, died after being hit by a Jeep driven by a 17-year-old girl. Archibald was waiting for a bus at the southeast corner of Fraser Highway and 156th Street.
Drew’s son was just one month from his graduation when he died in hospital following a serious car crash. Jay had been driving and his car had careened off the road and hit a post.
Since he lost his son, Drew has been speaking in schools and to adults across Canada to educate people about the dangers of speeding. He is also the chairman of Jammin’ 4 Jay.
He uses photos of the car Jay was driving that night to show the damage that was done.
“A lot of these tragedies that are happening are preventable,” said Drew. “It’s kids living their life out of the box is what I call it. They got the ‘Superman Syndrome’, it’s not going to happen to me. And if they can just take a step back, slow down, control what’s going on around you. Don’t be in such a rush.”
He said what happened to Evan on Wednesday means they are reliving the nightmare all over again.
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“I suffer from what I call ‘D.K.S. – dead kid syndrome, and I wouldn’t wish it upon my worst enemy,” he said. “And now here’s the lady that’s been my Rock of Gibraltar for the last nine years of our relationship is going to get hit with that tidal wave.”
Drew said right now his wife Karla is in a state of shock. On Wednesday, she told Global News “why did this happen? There’s too many kids dying on the road. You don’t think you’re going to wake up and find your son died, just doing nothing. Just waiting for the bus stop.”
He said now they are back to square one and have to start the healing process over.
“It’s like that nightmare all over again,” he said. “You get that phone call.”
Drew said this is not going to stop him from speaking at schools and events about dangerous driving.
“That’s what I try and do is talk to those kids, from a parent’s point of view, and from my son’s point of view.”
He said the emails he gets back from students and others is what keeps him going.
“I hope we can get through to the kids, you’re not alone. They’re not alone. There’s always someone to talk to.”
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