Parents honour daughter killed by drunk driver as they push for tougher laws

A Pierrefonds–Roxboro couple is fighting for stricter impaired-driving penalties in memory of their daughter Jessica, killed by a drunk driver in 2017.

A Pierrefonds–Roxboro couple has spent years fighting for tougher laws around drinking and driving.

At a recent police roadblock during the holidays, they were there raising awareness in an effort to save lives, after their daughter Jessica was killed by a drunk driver.

“The fact that we can talk to the driver and thank them for driving sober. They understand the importance. And as a victim, we feel good because we try to put the face on victims,” said Antoine Bittar, Jessica’s father.

Bittar knows all too well the importance of campaigns like these. His daughter Jessica was killed by a drunk driver in 2017. His life and his family’s were devastated in an instant

“Like a big chunk of your life disappears and a big chunk of your dream disappears,” he said.

Bittar and his wife, Elizabeth Rivera, will never forget that tragic night.

“It was the wake up at 4:30 in the morning by the police. Coming to our house. To tell us that, she she passed away. You don’t know what to do, right? You’re lost. We weren’t even talking to each other. We’re like, what’s happening? It’s not true,” said Rivera.

Their bond over the years has only grown stronger as they fight to make sure Jessica’s death was not in vain.

“Jessica was a beautiful person. She was very kind, very compassionate. Always putting people first,” Rivera said.

They’ve channelled their grief and loss into advocacy, fighting for administrative sanctions such as fines and suspended licences for drivers caught behind the wheel with a blood-alcohol level of 0.05.

Currently, the limit is 0.08.

“First of all, this is going to save more than 50 per cent of lives, mortality on the road. More than 60 per cent of Quebecers agreed about that,” Bittar said.

All Canadian provinces except Quebec impose penalties at 0.05, but so far the Coalition Avenir Québec has refused to budge on the issue.

“We get mad about this situation. We’re mad about the government who cannot take a responsible decision and have the courage to do it,” Bittar said.

Bittar also speaks to people with impaired driving convictions.

“Usually I tell them what you will tell me if you were the person who killed my daughter, and you can see right away their eyes go down and we’re telling them you have the second chance,” he said.

It’s moments like these that give Bittar the push to keep fighting, and it’s work appreciated by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).

“He wants to make sure that what happened to Jessica doesn’t happen to anybody else,” said Theresa-Anne Kramer, president of MADD Montreal.

By sharing Jessica’s story, the couple hopes people will think twice before getting behind the wheel this holiday season.

“A fatal collision. It takes one minute and you change your life. You change the life of so many people around,” Rivera said.

A loss they say no family should ever endure.