By Bryan Eneas

Collision with band-owned backhoe leaves woman in coma

Mar 26, 2018 | 2:00 PM

A backhoe owned by the Muskoday First Nation struck a 60-year-old woman last week, leaving her with serious injuries.

On March 21, RCMP responded to a motor vehicle collision between a backhoe and a pedestrian which was apparently caused by low visibility. Sgt. Lyle Korczak said fog reduced visibility to roughly 50 ft. when the accident occurred. Korczak said the backhoe was driving on the westbound shoulder of the highway, and when the driver saw a pedestrian walking along the road he pulled into the driving lane while traveling roughly 25 kilometres per hour.

The driver of the backhoe then noticed a semi pulling up behind him, Korczak said, and while trying to avoid a collision he pulled back into the shoulder, striking the pedestrian with the bucket.

Korczak confirmed the backhoe was owned by the Muskoday First Nation, though he noted no charges are being considered against the driver of the backhoe at this time.

Pedestrian in medically induced coma

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Justin King said the injured pedestrian was his 60-year-old aunt Violet Crain, who is a member of the Muskoday First Nation.

He said Crain was immediately taken to Royal University Hospital after the collision, which left Crain with a brain bleed and numerous broken bones. Five days later, he said Crain is in a medically-induced coma to reduce the swelling in her brain.

King said doctors tried to pull Crain out of her coma, but found she was in too much pain. Medical professionals will once again attempt to pull her out of the coma on March 26, he said.

As Crain has no next of kin, King said the process has been challenging for her family.

“It’s kind of her brothers and sisters, nieces, and nephews who have to try to pull together,” King said. “We had to do all these things to try and get the treatments started on her because she wasn’t able to give her own consent.”

Crain said the family is considering legal action against Muskoday First Nation following the incident.

First Nation investigating

Ivan Bear, director of operations, maintenance manager and fire chief for the Muskoday Volunteer Fire Department, was not available to comment. An acting supervisor confirmed a collision involving a band member and a backhoe owned by the band occurred last week, but wasn`t able to provide specific details about the accident to paNOW and said the band is investigating.

–With files from Taylor MacPherson

Bryan.Eneas@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @BryanEneas