A fundraising campaign has been launched on behalf of a man who was severely injured when struck by a vehicle as he was crossing a newly-upgraded crosswalk earlier this month.
According to a posting on GoFundMe, Graham Yeulet, an instrument technician at the Northwood pulp mill, was out for a jog before work when he was hit while crossing Ospika Boulevard at Davis Avenue on the evening of October 4.
He was rushed to hospital with with several broken bones and a severe head injury and was immediately put on life support. And that night he was flown to Vancouver General Hospital where he remains in intensive care.
"His brain injuries are very severe and are dispersed throughout his brain. While his broken bones will heal, his brain is still a huge question mark," the campaign's organizer, Silene Myers, said in the posting. "These injuries will require Graham to undergo extensive rehabilitation over the next couple years including speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, etc."
As of Monday, the effort was just a few thousand dollars shy of reaching a goal of $75,000. The money will go towards supporting Yeulet and his partner, Julie Sorenson, as they face bills, mortgage payments and travel and living expenses on a reduced income.
"We anticipate that in the immediate future Graham will not be returning to his job as an instrument technician. We do not want him to worry about financial burdens as he begins his recovery," Myers said.
The incident occurred just days after upgrades to the crossing had been completed. The work included installing a "rectangular rapid flashing beacon" that walkers could activate to alert motorists to their presence at the crossing.
RCMP, who were called to the scene at 5 p.m., said the vehicle's driver remained on the scene, as did witnesses and a portion of the road was closed while officers took photographs and gathered evidence.
Police are continuing to investigate.
