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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, June 17, 2016 | 14 MADD film series helps youths make better calls by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff The terrible consequences of impaired driving and the shattering impact it has on the families of its victims was made clear in a MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) Canada video, unveiled at Silvercity Oakville theatre Wednesday (June 15). The video, titled In the Blink of an Eye, was filmed in Halton last fall with help from the Halton police, Milton Fire Department and Halton EMS. It features the fictional story of four friends, who are forever changed by one friend's bad decision. The story jumps back and forth between three traumatized teens giving statements about an unknown tragedy at a police station and these same teens drinking earlier in the day as they prepare to attend a party. The day's fun takes a turn for the worse when one teen, Dylan, who is clearly impaired by alcohol and marijuana, decides to drive to the party rather than wait for the cab the others had called. As Dylan drives through the streets, he runs down and kills a friend who had left the gathering earlier. As Dylan is interviewed by a police officer he repeatedly apologizes, however, the devastation seen on the faces of his friends and the Madd (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) Canada, which is headquartered in Oakville, released its latest video, In the Blink of an Eye, this week at Silvercity Oakville. Pictured, cast members, from left, are: Matt Raffy, Kendon Chase, Blair Anderson, Alex Anisman, and Kendall Hayde. | photo by Riziero Vertolli ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) deceased teen's parents make it clear his words are meaningless and his feelings of regret have come far too late. "I hope people will see from this that it (driving impaired) is just not worth it," said Kendon Chase, who played Dylan, following the premiere. "It doesn't matter what it is that is waiting for you at the end of that drive. You can wait half an hour for a cab to get you to that party. There is so much that can happen if you don't." Following the fictional story, the video showed real testimonials from several people who have lost loved ones to impaired drivers. The family of Sudbury resident DJ Hancock told one of these stories. They described DJ as a great kid, who was positive, athletic and outgoing and who everyone loved. The 18-year-old had been at a hockey tryout the evening of Aug. 21, 2014 with his parents and the family was driving home in two separate vehicles. DJ's father Dean and mother Kim had stopped to get coffee and then resumed the journey only to come upon a horrific accident and learn that, during that short time, their son had been hit head-on by an impaired driver who had fallen asleep at the wheel and drifted into DJ's path. "There were massive crush injuries to his legs. When some of the people who were first on scene approached the vehicle they thought it was gasoline leaking out of his vehicle and unfortunately it was blood," said Jaymie-Lyne Hancock, DJ's sister. "They weren't able to get his body out of the car and he did pass away at the scene." Dean said with DJ gone, he has been robbed of so much including seeing his son get married and have children. see Student on p.21 Canadian Made Solid Wood by Save Now on Bedrooms ~ Entertainment Stands ~ Tables CHOICE OF STAINS AyA Kitchens of oAKville 1195 north service roAd west 905.847.1522 ayaoakville.com 217 Lakeshore Rd. E., Downtown Oakville Since 1953 www.swissinteriors.com · 905.844.3530 Furniture & Home Decor