Victim in jockey's car crash died in mother's arms
Matthew Kruk
TheStar.com - GTA - Victim in jockey's car crash died in mother's arms
'We don't drink ... but alcohol destroyed our family'
June 27, 2008
Peter Edwards
Staff Reporter
Schoolteacher Suzanne Mizuno died in her mother's arms, moments after the
car in which she was riding collided with one driven by jockey David Clark,
whose blood alcohol level was over the legal limit at the time of the 2006
crash, court heard.
"She grasped my hand firmly," Deanna Mizuno wrote in a victim impact
statement was read in court today by Crown Attorney Paul Tait. "... Her hand
opened and let go of mine. She was gone."
The court heard today that Clark, 54, one of Canada's most successful
riders, had a blood alcohol level over the legal limit at the time of the
crash on Huntington Road, south of Major Mackenzie Drive, on May 16, 2006.
When tested by police at 9:21 and 9:41 p.m. that evening, his blood alcohol
level was found to be .110 per cent - over the legal limit of .08.
"We don't drink alcohol but alcohol destroyed our family," Deanna Mizuno
said in her victim impact statement.
Since the accident happened more than three hours prior to the tests, York
Regional Police breathalyzer technicians concluded it was likely at between
.120 and .170 per cent at the time of the crash.
Court heard that Clark was red-eyed and his speech was slurred after the
accident.
Clark pleaded guilty to impaired driving causing death and impaired driving
causing bodily harm in April.
His sentencing hearing continues Sept. 30.
Suzanne Mizuno, 34, a music teacher and educational author for elementary
school students in Woodbridge, was being driven to her parents' home by
brother Jamie, 30, at the time of the collision.
"To this day, I can hear her last words, as she screamed, 'Look out!" Jamie
Mizuno said in his victim impact statement, also read into court by Tait.
"We didn't get a chance to say goodbye," Jamie Mizuno said in his statement.
"She left so fast."
He called his sister's death, "senseless and avoidable."
Deanna Mizuno said in her victim impact statement that she found herself
trying to comfort Suzanne's Grade 2 students at the funeral.
One of those students was a little girl who couldn't stop crying, after she
heard her teacher was dead.
"The little girl asked if Mrs. Mizuno heard her when she talked to her in
her mind," Deanna Mizuno said in her victim impact statement.
Deanna Mizuno tried to describe her emotions, as the hearse carrying her
only daughter's body drove away from the funeral.
"Some of her kids (students) tried to run after it and I wanted to run after
it too," she said.
Terry Flahiff
> Victim in jockey's car crash died in mother's arms
> TheStar.com - GTA - Victim in jockey's car crash died in mother's arms
>
> 'We don't drink ... but alcohol destroyed our family'
>
> June 27, 2008
> Peter Edwards
> Staff Reporter
>
> Schoolteacher Suzanne Mizuno died in her mother's arms, moments after the
> car in which she was riding collided with one driven by jockey David Clark,
> whose blood alcohol level was over the legal limit at the time of the 2006
> crash, court heard.
>
> "She grasped my hand firmly," Deanna Mizuno wrote in a victim impact
> statement was read in court today by Crown Attorney Paul Tait. "... Her hand
> opened and let go of mine. She was gone."
>
> The court heard today that Clark, 54, one of Canada's most successful
> riders, had a blood alcohol level over the legal limit at the time of the
> crash on Huntington Road, south of Major Mackenzie Drive, on May 16, 2006.
There is a sad irony here.
David Clark was a friend and protegé of Avelino Gomez, one of the
greatest jockeys in North American history.
In 1980, Clark was aboard "Lacey" when Gomez' horse broke a back leg and
fell. Clark was unable to avoid a collision and pinned Gomez between
the two horses. Although they rushed him to a nearby hospital, Gomez
died later that afternoon - the only jockey ever to be killed at
Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto. His rib caged had been crushed and both
of his lungs collapsed It has been said that Clark has never gotten
over that day.
It is in no way a factor in this recent accident but Clark's life has
been less than wonderful I guess.
Bob Feigel
<Matthe...@Telus.net> magnanimously proffered:
>"She grasped my hand firmly," Deanna Mizuno wrote in a victim impact
>statement was read in court today by Crown Attorney Paul Tait. "... Her hand
>opened and let go of mine. She was gone."
Don't know about Canada, but in New Zealand, victim impact statements
can be given in court before sentencing and while the guilty party or
parties are present - although the victim is supposed to address the
court and not the guilty party. But that policy is sometimes ignored.
I hope the man responsible for this woman's death (and her brother's
injuries) was made to sit in court to hear what pain, loss and
suffering his actions have caused.
--
"It's not that I'm afraid to die. I just don't want to be there when it happens." - Woody Allen
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wax-up and drop-in of Surfing's Golden Years: <http://www.surfwriter.net>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
La N
"Matthew Kruk" <Matthe...@Telus.net> wrote in message
news:0OI9k.919$7%6.587@edtnps82...
Geeze .... :'( It's been a hand around the Kleenex box weekend on a.o.
- nilita
Matthew Kruk
news:de5g641qotgboavd8...@4ax.com...
> [Default] On Sun, 29 Jun 2008 09:42:20 GMT, "Matthew Kruk"
> <Matthe...@Telus.net> magnanimously proffered:
>
>>"She grasped my hand firmly," Deanna Mizuno wrote in a victim impact
>>statement was read in court today by Crown Attorney Paul Tait. "... Her
>>hand
>>opened and let go of mine. She was gone."
>
> Don't know about Canada, but in New Zealand, victim impact statements
> can be given in court before sentencing and while the guilty party or
> parties are present - although the victim is supposed to address the
> court and not the guilty party. But that policy is sometimes ignored.
Same in Canada.
Matthew Kruk
news:_6V9k.862$1o6.511@edtnps83...
> ...
> Geeze .... :'( It's been a hand around the Kleenex box weekend on a.o.
Indeed. Especially the drunk driving kind - long weekend for us and the
U.S. next weekend. Too much of this happens. Wish they'd stay put and go
to bed ... or at least get in the back seat and sleep it off...
La N
"Matthew Kruk" <Matthe...@Telus.net> wrote in message
I took a day trip to the States yesterday to do lunch and a littleshopping.
There were "Welcome Canadians" signs all over. Thankfully, no drunks on the
road that I could see.
- nilita