Elle and Jay’s Motorcycle Accident

On July 6th, 2023, I was enjoying a sunny day off when I got the phone call from my sister. My parents had been in a serious motorcycle accident in Osoyoos, B.C. My parents had been t-boned by a truck hauling a trailer. He took an unsafe turn and struck my parents. My Dad, was seriously injured and taken by ambulance to Penticton hospital for his extensive injuries.

My Mom, was airlifted to Kelowna hospital as she suffered such severe trauma from the crash, Penticton hospital could not handle her case.

My Dad suffered serious multiple breaks to the left side of his body including multiple injuries to his leg, ribs, wrist, the palm being torn off his hand, along with serious leg and ankle injuries.

My Mom had several severe injuries to her left leg and foot including breaking her femur in two spots, shattering her tibia and fibula, hand trauma from being launched off the bike and landing face first in pavement, and head trauma as well.

Fast forward to today….

My Dad is now home trying his best to recover from his injuries and it’s been over 9 weeks. He is still in a wheelchair while he regains strength to walk again.

My Mom is still in the hospital. As a result of her extensive injuries, her left leg was amputated above the knee. She will never truly walk the way she used to. That mental anguish alone is enough however, she also remembers every moment of the accident, the sounds, the pain, the trauma leading to the amputation of her leg. My Mom is a fitness instructor and has spent the last 20 years dancing and teaching others. Due to the accident, she will now no longer be able to teach dance or dance like she used to. This is a heavy impact on her as she feels she’s lost the ability to enjoy her passion: dance.

Both my parents have been through a lot of physical and mental trauma. They will continue to have a long road ahead of them to rehabilitate after their accident. All of this because someone made the stupid decision to be impatient and make an unsafe left turn.

As a result of the new “No fault insurance” legislation passed by the BC NDP government, they are unable to privately sue the driver who hit them and changed their lives forever. Even though their lives will never be the same, No Lawyers can/will help them as their hands are tied by this legislation.

My Dad travels back and forth to the hospital to see my Mom when he can. ICBC is only willing to cover certain expenses and my parents are doing what they can to manage. I am pretty positive things will start to add up for them over the next year(s) as they navigate their new lifestyle of “unwanted and forced disabilities”. They didn’t ask for any of these injuries.

My parents are incredible people. They run an online blog supporting local community, businesses and restaurants and spread joy and community wherever they go. They are selfless individuals who will never ask for help because they would rather give it.

I ask that you please think of my family and what we’ve all been through. This journey is still underway with many curbs and roadblocks. Time simply will not fix what has happened here. We will continue to move forward because we don’t have a choice.

Thank you and lots of love always,

Kaylee Cassidy