Mother’s Heartbreaking Plea After Son Killed in Hit-and-Run
Just before 8am on 28th July 2019, Helen Saltern’s world shattered. Two police officers knocked on her door with the worst news: her beloved son, Ryan, had been killed in a brutal hit-and-run.
Horror of the Crash and Cold-Blooded Driver
Ryan was hit, dragged 18 metres under the car, left severely injured in the road — then hit by a second vehicle and dragged another 14 metres. The driver didn’t stop or call for help. He just fled the scene.
“The driver not only robbed me of Ryan, he also robbed me of the chance to say goodbye,”
Helen revealed. “I carry horrific images in my head and rely on medication to sleep. I have PTSD and feel I’ll never recover.”
An Unfair Sentence and a Family Left Broken
The driver pleaded guilty to failing to stop and report the incident. Yet his punishment? A four-month suspended sentence, a three-night curfew for four months, and a 12-month driving ban.
Helen said, “This is what my son’s life was worth — treated like a broken wing mirror. Disgusting.”
Helen’s Mission: Justice for Ryan
Helen now dreads birthdays, Christmas, and family celebrations where Ryan’s absence hurts most. She struggles daily but pushes on for the sake of her grandsons and family.
“I keep going because my family is struggling too. I wake, cry, speak to Ryan’s empty room, and hope for justice,”
she said.
Helen is campaigning for change with #RyansLaw — a petition demanding tougher penalties for hit-and-run drivers. She urges:
- Sign and share Ryan’s Law petition
- Support stronger justice to stop this nightmare happening to other families
Helen’s heartbreaking story is a stark reminder: one careless driver destroyed a family, and the law hasn’t done nearly enough.
