'It has to mean something': Family, friends of Hannah Thorne want young woman's death to spark change

It was just after 5:30 p.m. on Thursday,July 7,when Hannah Thorne died.

Her young life ended in a high-speed explosion of steel and glasson a well-travelled road known as the New Harbour Barrens, just four kilometres from Hannah'shome.

Just minutes beforeshe was texting her friend, making plans for a trip into St. John's.

She even jokingly complained about her grandmother's slow driving.

It was the end of Hannah's third day on the job at an art gallery in Carbonear, and 81-year oldGertieThornewas at the wheel of the small Hyundai as they neared their destination.

Hannah's summer, indeed her entire life, lay ahead of her.

The daughter of Levi and Gail Thorne, and a younger sister to Cody, 21, Hannahwas friendly and a little silly, loved to play the guitar andwasa decent singer.

Gertie wasafeisty woman who would do anything for her granddaughter.

Life taken, hearts broken

Hannah had recently graduated from Crescent Collegiate in Blaketown, and had finalized plans to study office administrationin St. John's to become a medical secretary.

But on a straight stretch of highway cresting a small hill, her dreams and goals came to anend.

Vehicles are not allowed to pass here; the solid yellow line a warning.

But a beefy Ford F-150 travelling east collided head-on with the Hyundai.

Hannah wasdead;Gertie'saging body mauled from head to toe.

A month later charges are laid

Criminal charges of street racing causing death, and a long list of others, are laid against two men from the Bay Roberts area.

Police believeSteven Ryan Mercer, 29, and Brian Robert King, 30, were racing east in separate vehicles when the collision occurred.

It's believed King's pickup shattered the small Hyundai, and the lives of many.

Gertie spent nine weeks in hospital, and is now recovering at home.

• S.T.A.N.D. for Hannah: Thorne family looks to curb reckless driving

The case against Mercer and King has been making its way through the justice system, with a scheduled court appearance in Harbour Grace Wednesday postponed until Nov. 2.

Mother too emotional for interview

Meanwhile, those grieving Hannah's death are trying to channel that grief into something positive.

They have started a Facebook group called STAND for Hannah, which aims to bring awareness to the dangers of reckless driving.

The group hadmore than 2,700 supporters as of Wednesday.

One of their goals is to bolster the laws to ensure reckless drivers are held accountable.

They are bringing that message directly to the courthouse, where more than a dozen people carriedphotos of Hannah on Wednesday.

"Her death can't be for nothing," said one family member.

Hannah's mother, Gail, is still too emotional to answer questions about the case, or her daughter.

She agreed to an interview with CBC News, wanting to share her story, but fell apart almost immediately.

"I can't do it," she said. "I can't even talk."