News TheReview Wednesday, December 30, 1992 — A13 “Boy robbed of future by drunk driving crash In 1991 throughout British Columbia, 180 people were killed in impaired driving related accidents. Some were the drivers themselves — but many were passengers in vehicles driven by a drunk driver. One of those 1991 victims was a 15-year-old North Saanich boy, Felix ee tet ta ne August David. FELIX DAVID at 15. by Valorie Lennox The Review “He said he’d stay and look after us.” Almost 18 months after the accident which killed her son, Arlene Harry’s eyes still fill with tears when she talks about Felix. “He was robbed of his youth, his education and everything.” In 1990, Arlene was a single parent, raising 13-year-old Felix and nine-year-old Rebecca on the Pauquachin Reserve. . She was trying to build a better future. That year she went back to school, completing a program which enabled her to get a job as a retail clerk. While his mother attended school, Felix was earning $6 an hour as a part-time chicken- catcher. He saved his money to buy his mother a surprise graduation gift — a new outfit to wear at the graduation ceremony. They were a close-knit family. Felix attended Parkland Secondary and Sea Cadets, adding the chicken-catching job to his sched- ule when he was 14. As a chicken-catcher, Felix worked from 8 or 9 p.m. to 2 or 3 a.m., returning home for a few hours sleep before leaving for ~ school. Although drinking was common among many of Felix’s friends and relatives, Felix told his mother he did not drink. : “He said he hated the taste of alcohol. It made him sick.” But avoiding alcohol would be difficult for Felix. Arlene knew her estranged husband drank and she suspected her other three sons, who lived with him, were drink- ing. Arlene’s younger sister, Cindy Harry, had a habit of going out for a drive after a drinking bout. In the winter of 1990, one of Felix’s older brothers entered the Longhouse as a dancer. Felix left school for a semester and dropped out of cadets to help his brother through the Longhouse ceremonies. He continued to work part-time and helped at home. “He liked to cook, smile a lot and tell jokes. When I was work- ing, he always did the cooking for me.” Felix also helped with house- cleaning, grocery shopping and looking after 10-year-old Rebecca. ~ He was my little man of the house. He took care of Becky 22 while I was gone.” After the winter of 1990-91, Felix decided to return to school. He rode his bike from West Saa- nich Road to Parkland School and registered himself for the Septem- ber 1991 term. “He was going to finish his schooling right off,” Arlene said, adding that Felix also helped Becky with her homework. Felix also drew, both cartoons and native art. He taught some of his skills to his sister. “He spoiled his little sister,” Arlene said, recalling Felix buying small gifts for Rebecca and pick- ing up his sister’s share of the chores. “We took care of each others’ problems — he’d talk to me and I'd talk to him.” June 21, 1991 was a Friday night. Felix and Arlene were up late, watching a movie, when one of Felix’s friends came to the door and invited the young man out for a drive. It was a birthday eve celebration for one of the teenagers. “Felix said no at first — he was sitting at the table,” Arlene said. But the driver was Felix’s aunt and two of Felix’s brothers were already in the car, along with two other young men. Felix’s father was on top of Felix’s dead body, crying away’ “Felix was just pressured to go, obligated because it was his aunty and my sister, I guess. He left so suddenly I couldn’t stop him.” Early on the morning of June 22, Arlene said Felix’s aunt was found walking along West Saanich Road. “She wasn’t even hurt,” Arlene said. The teenagers were not so lucky. A passing motorist called Central Saanich police to report a serious accident in the 8300-block of West Saanich Road. An older model Chrysler Cor- doba had skidded out of control and smashed into the trees border- ing the road. Police suspected the car had been travelling at high speed when the driver lost control. Felix, sitting in the right rear seat of the car, was killed instantly. The four other teenagers, two 14- year-old boys and two 17-year-old boys, were taken to hospital with serous injuries. It was almost 6 a.m. when Arlene was told of the accident and taken to the scene. “Felix’s father was on top of Felix’s dead body, crying away.” Police, firemen and ambulance crews worked for several hours to extract all the passengers from the Car. “We almost lost all the boys,” Arlene said. Eventually, Cindy Harry served three months in jail and a fourth month confined to her home by an electronic monitoring device. For a while, Arlene said, her younger sister stopped drinking. Meanwhile, Arlene and Becky tried to forgive and rebuild their lives without Felix. “Sometimes it is hard. Becky and I, when we first lost Felix, used to pretend that Felix had just gone to work. It was the only way we could cope with it.” For several months they carried the pretense to the point of having supper ready at 3 a.m., just as they had done when Felix worked as a chicken-catcher. “Becky cried for a year. She asked why Felix had gone when he said he’d stay and look after us. “I was just glad I had him longer than anybody else did.” Becky is now 12 and in Grade 7. As Felix did, she helps her mother around the house. She shares her brother’s ability and hasbeen enrolled in a program for gifted students. “Her teacher says she’ll make it through univer- sity,” Arlene said. Arlene works hard, taking on early morning and late night shifts in a local store. She is determined to see Becky reach her potential. Becky knows never to ride in a car if the driver has been drinking. But not everyone leamed from the tragedy of Felix’s death. On Christmas Eve, Becky's Aunt Cindy had again been drink- ing. While Arlene was still at work, Cindy Harry invited Becky out for a drive. Becky refused. A SEA CADET, Felix David (centre) joined in the annual Remembrance Day ceremony in Sidney. If you're going to drink. Don’t Drive! Travelodge 2280 Beacon Ave. Sidney 656-1176 To a Safe Holiday Season! 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