GINTA – Personal responsibility can prevent future tragedies
Jason Apps with friends. (Image: Instagram, Jason Apps)
ON A FATEFUL DAY in 2012, somewhere on Salt Spring Island, a set of bad decisions ended up changing many people’s lives for the worst and ending one. Calder McCormick and Ryan Plambeck, then 17 and 18 years old respectively, left a house party in an advanced state of intoxication due to alcohol and marijuana, got in a car that was not theirs and crashed shortly after.
McCormick survived but suffered brain trauma which left him unable to pursue further education or even ride a bicycle, while Ryan Plambeck died at the scene of the crash. He was behind the wheel but did not have a valid driver’s license. Heartbreaking and yet preventable.
McCormick is suing the two parents who hosted the party on their property, for negligence. The ongoing lawsuit which is set to wrap up this week or the next, can set a precedent for any parent who will allow underage drinking in their home.
Daniela Ginta is a mother, scientist, writer and blogger. She can be reached at daniela.ginta@gmail.com, or through her blog at http://www.thinkofclouds.com.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
We as a society have evolved into a beast of easy blame and selfishness. It will take a gargantuan effort, especially by the legislative and judiciary part of the mechanism to bring it back to a manageable level of self-control and discipline.
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