Roadside crosses painful but important reminder of Marshfield tragedy, victim's mother says

Trish Vanderweerd feels the heartache every time she drives along the stretch of highway northeast of Charlottetown where her daughter, Laura, and three others were killed in a two-vehicle collision Dec. 8.

It won't get any easier after four white crosses were placed along the side of St. Peters Road in their memory.

But Vanderweerd said that is the goal — a "visual reminder" to anyone who passes by about the consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol.

"We as humans are often forgetful, and when the pain of others is sort of dissipated, then we carry on with our lives as usual," Vanderweerd said.

"And I know from my own experience, driving past crosses always makes me stop and think, 'Oh, somebody died here and somebody lost a … loved one.'"

Those loved ones, Laura Esther Vanderweerd, 18, brothers Isaiah Amini Chaisson Makuza, 17, and Elijah Solomon Justice Stewart, 12, and Daniel Bambrick, 30, were memorialized Friday night at a public vigil in Marshfield, where the tragedy took place.

The white crosses were placed along the side of St. Peters Road where the tragedy occurred. (Steve Bruce/CBC)

Dozens of people prayed and hugged as flowers were placed at the crosses. Many sobbed and wiped away tears when a recording of Laura singing was played.

Laura Vanderweerd was driving from her family's home in Morell to a church youth group in Charlottetown with her three friends when a pickup truck going in the other direction pulled into their lane and hit them head-on.

Killed in the collision were, from left, Isaiah Amini Chaisson Makuza, Laura Esther Vanderweerd, Elijah Solomon Justice Stewart and Daniel Bambrick. (North Shore Funeral Home/Submitted)

Two people survived the collision — Micah, the 15-year-old brother of Mazuka and Stewart, and Bambrick's 20-year-old passenger.

Bambrick was the driver of the truck police say caused the accident. Police say alcohol was involved, and the investigation is complete.

Trish Vanderweerd said her faith and community support have helped her find forgiveness in her heart.

Karen Clinton of Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Trish Vanderweerd, wearing a sweater emblazoned with the message Choose Life, Don't Drive Impaired, hope the message gets across to people who pass by. (Steve Bruce/CBC)

But she doesn't want people to forget. She and other friends and family of the victims have also made bumper stickers and shirts with the message "Choose Life, Don't Drive Impaired."

Karen Clinton of Mothers Against Drunk Driving said it's a message that too many people on P.E.I. fail to heed. Friday's vigil brought back memories of her best friend's mother, who was killed by a drunk driver 12 years ago.

"Impaired driving on P.E.I. is rampant. It is in all of our communities, especially our rural communities," she said.

"It definitely needs to be a conversation around your dinner table, honestly. Impaired driving doesn't affect one age group specifically. It affects everyone."

Dozens of people hugged, prayed and wiped away tears as they remembered the four people killed in a two-vehicle collision Dec. 8 in Marshfield. (Steve Bruce/CBC)

Trish Vanderweerd said the grieving families will continue to manage the best they can as time passes.

"Like all things, when we keep going through it, it does become easier, Trish Vanderweerd said. "Now, with the white crosses, yeah, it's going to hit home a little harder again. But that is the purpose of the white cross, to hit home to people's hearts and minds."