The motive force whose automotive careened by an intersection and into the Crimson Cross constructing in Victoria remembers the incident: “My mother advised me after the actual fact: ‘I appeared over and it appeared such as you had been dancing to the music.’ I stated: ‘I wasn’t dancing, Mother — I used to be having a seizure.’ ”
John Enever was driving to his mother’s dwelling in James Bay after a day of sightseeing up Island when every thing went black.
As his physique convulsed and his foot floored the accelerator of his SUV, he pushed two automobiles stopped on the visitors mild into the intersection at Quadra Avenue and Fairfield Highway, struck a pedestrian and careened right into a constructing.
“My mother advised me after the actual fact: ‘I appeared over and it appeared such as you had been dancing to the music,’ ” stated Enever, 49, of Vancouver. “I stated: ‘I wasn’t dancing, Mother — I used to be having a seizure.’”
The crash on the Fairfield intersection at 4:30 p.m. on Might 10 despatched Enever to hospital with a damaged femur, his mom with shoulder and again accidents, and his buddy Hilda, visiting from Mexico, with a slash to the again of her leg. The police didn’t present an replace on the situation of the pedestrian.
Enever’s beloved canine Rita — a seven-year-old Labrador-Shepherd — suffered a spinal wire damage inflicting partial paralysis and was euthanized, whereas Marker, an 11-year-old terrier, had solely delicate tissue accidents.
Enever had been in Victoria from Vancouver to indicate Hilda the Island and introduce her to his mother, Penny Pitcher, 76.
Mother and son picked up Hilda on their return from the Malahat Skywalk — Hilda opted to soak up Butchart Gardens as a substitute — and the three had been simply 5 minutes from Pitcher’s dwelling in James Bay when all their lives modified.
It’s nonetheless unknown what introduced on the seizure. A battery of checks — a mind MRI, an EEG and an ECG and blood checks — couldn’t discover a trigger.
Enever says he was advised his legs had locked, urgent the gasoline pedal to the ground, earlier than his BMW SUV hit a sedan carrying mother and father and two younger youngsters, which, in flip, hit a Good automotive. “Fortunately nobody else was damage,” stated Enever.
Enever’s automobile then carried on by the intersection to the left, over a sidewalk curb the place a pedestrian needed to leap to security, and eventually got here to relaxation on the door of the Canadian Crimson Cross Society constructing on the nook of the intersection.
Fortunately, a doctor was on the scene and paramedics arrived rapidly.
“I didn’t have a pulse,” stated Enever, who was discovered slumped over the motive force’s wheel. All airbags within the automobile had deployed.
Enever’s garments had been ripped off and CPR was began — he doesn’t know by whom. He chokes up recounting accounts from witnesses and medical workers.
“I got here to behind an ambulance with the attendant holding my hand,” stated Enever. He requested the paramedic about his mom and canines.
His mom was in hospital for 9 days with intensive shoulder, again and leg ache and is carrying a brace. His buddy Hilda was stitched up and discharged. Enever had a titanium rod screwed in his femur. He was in hospital eight days — within the hallway for the ultimate three. He’s by no means been up to date on the fourth particular person, the pedestrian, taken to hospital that day.
Enever doesn’t bemoan his accidents or the lack of his automobile, which he had acquired solely six weeks earlier, however feels horrible that his mom, who was match and dwelling independently, however is now in ache and needing dwelling assist.
As properly, he says his grief over the lack of his canine has been compounded by what he considers an extreme vet invoice, which he says he was given 24 hours to pay whereas nonetheless in hospital.
After the crash, Enever’s canines had been taken in by Victoria Animal Management, which may authorize take care of the animals till the proprietor is ready to take action.
As soon as Central Victoria Veterinary Hospital was capable of contact Enever on Might 11, following his surgical procedure, he selected to have Rita euthanized after studying she had a spinal-cord damage. “If she will’t run or swim or chase down her Frisbee, she has no life.”
The veterinary hospital despatched Enever a photograph of Rita with a notice, as if written by her, “Hello there daddy! it’s your lady Rita checking in to say goodbye to you … Simply know that I really like you dad! Till we meet once more, Rita.”
Enever chokes up studying the letter and his reply. He referred to as it a candy expression, however stated it was all enterprise after that.
Enever stated he was overwhelmed in hospital attempting to know the preparations and prices whereas “doped up on morphine” and with out his studying glasses. He understood it was about $600 for Marker if he had somebody choose him up instantly, and $1,000 to euthanize Rita.
“After which they ship me a invoice whereas I’m nonetheless within the hospital for $2,800 and alter with a requirement letter that it have to be paid inside 24 hours.”
The bill for Marker was $609.58, and the one for Rita was $2,253.13 for stabilization, ache medicine, hospitalization and euthanasia, for a complete invoice of $2,862.71.
An emailed letter dated Might 12 from Central Victoria Veterinary Hospital stated cost was required inside 24 hours, after which Rita could be cremated.
As soon as he was again in Vancouver, Enever stated, he advised the corporate he felt the invoice was unreasonable — “nearly $3,000 to basically put down your canine and take care of the opposite one for a day” — and tried to barter the quantity, however was advised if the invoice was not paid in full, he could be charged two per cent curiosity month-to-month earlier than it was despatched to a group company.
“Sadly, the preliminary prices had been licensed by Victoria Animal Management after they introduced in your canines, which they’ve authorization to do,” stated the veterinary hospital in a textual content alternate.
The Instances Colonist contacted VCA Canada in Calgary, after which they accepted Enever’s cost of $1,000, which they advised him they may put in the direction of their charity that helps underprivileged homeowners of animals in want.
Enever stated within the final three months, he’s made a number of journeys to the Island to assist his mom, who doesn’t drive, after the current dying of her husband. He had been ready for a pleasant day to take her to the Malahat Skywalk.
He appears over the digital map displaying the crash web site and his mom’s dwelling.
“We had been 5 minutes from my Mother’s dwelling,” he stated. “So completely devastating.”
ceharnett@timescolonist.com
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