Tuesday 5 January, 2010

UK
Family

Speeding kills hundreds each year

By Andrew Halloway

The parents of a boy killed by a driver high on cannabis say God has helped them to forgive her.

The driver, Hannah Saaf, hit the national headlines when she disappeared after the accident which killed eleven-year-old Sam Riddall. Sam was trapped under Saaf’s car when it crashed onto the pavement as he walked home from a church youth club in Bristol in May.

Sam’s parents launched an emotional public appeal for Saaf to give herself up. After an extensive search, she was found nine days later, sleeping rough in a barn.

The mother of twins had a history of mental problems, but had also smoked cannabis before driving and was travelling at twice the legal speed limit for the road. She was sent to a secure mental hospital just before Christmas.

Sam’s parents, who are both Christians, have forgiven Saaf for taking away their son.

Just before Christmas, Martin Riddall, 45, said: “We want to thank everyone who has helped us through these past terrible eight months. Our family, friends, church and community and the police have been very, very kind to us.

“In four days we will celebrate Christmas for the first time without Sam. It is going to be very hard for us indeed because we still miss him very much.

“At Christmas we remember God sending Jesus into the world to bring peace. It is this same God who is giving us strength to forgive Hannah for the terrible thing she has done to us by killing our son.

“It is not easy. It is not going to be easy, but with God’s help we know it can be done.”

Sam was walking home with friends from Westbury Community Church in Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, when Saaf lost control while driving at 61mph in a 30mph speed limit. The post-mortem concluded that he suffered “overwhelming” head injuries and his death was instantaneous.

Saaf had been awake all the previous night, smoking cannabis with a friend. In a statement, she said: “I have never been in an accident before so I panicked and walked off. Since the accident I have been alone and very scared. I found myself in a grave and serious situation and felt out of my depth. I am deeply upset at the loss of Sam’s life and as a mother myself I feel greatly for his parents. I feel deep remorse and am very sorry for what happened.”

Saaf had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2003 and was treated in mental hospitals four times in 2002. The DVLA had withdrawn her driving licence on health grounds just three months before the accident.

Mr Riddall, a former RAF mechanic, works for Campus Crusade for Christ International, while Mrs Riddall works for another Christian organisation, Agape. The couple, originally from Birmingham, set up the Bristol Student Ministry together in 2007.

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