Teen involved in First and Ospika collision ‘thrilled’ with decision to upgrade intersection

“It’s like being a 50-year-old man.”

18-year-old Sean Lode is now home and starting physiotherapy after a collision at First and Ospika left him hospitalized with serious injuries nearly two months ago.

A petition was started by Sean’s sister, calling for the city to put a pedestrian controlled crossing at the intersection to make sure an incident like this one does not happen again.

Both Sean and his mother Stephanie are relieved that the intersection was bumped to the top of the list as part of Council’s Pedestrian Crossing Strategy, but Sean says it’s a shame that it wasn’t looked at before something extreme took place.

“It’s something that needed to happen. That intersection has been getting busier and busier as the years have gone on,” he said.

First and Ospika was not originally on the report, according to Prince George City Councilor Terri McConnachie.

“Unfortunately, where crosswalks are concerned, action is taken after,” she explained.

“It’s actually required that something happens. That’s the unfortunate reality,” added McConnachie.

Sean says his recovery is going well, however, he is still in a considerable amount of pain.

“I just feel sore every day, and don’t feel like myself,” he explained. “I can’t just get up and go out without being like ‘oh, I need to take a seat!'”

He has been dealing with multiple minor seizures on a regular basis that have been progressively improving since leaving the hospital.

The collarbone fracture that he suffered in the collision is also beginning to heal, however, a lingering ankle issue is causing him some difficulty.

“He wakes up and he goes ‘Mom, I’m so sore, do you have any Ibuprofen?'” said Stephanie.

“I put on A535 every day. I have baths and ice my joints, use warm cloths. I literally go all out like a 50-year-old man!” added Sean.

The combination of isolation due to Covid-19 and his recovery has been an added barrier, he explained.

“It’s sucked a lot. I’ve been wanting to go out, I like berry picking this time of year. Picking blueberries, saskatoons, and the raspberries! But, I feel like I just don’t want to go out at all, because I feel like I’m just going to get too sore and have to sit.”

The last thing he remembers before the accident was leaving the house with his girlfriend, Kaylee.

“Next thing I know I was in the ICU. I just remember waking up in a wheelchair and being in absolute shock,” Sean recalled.

“I was feeling like I just wanted to go home because I was feeling ok but didn’t know why I was there.”

Both Sean and his mother are taking comfort in the fact that the intersection is now scheduled to be fixed before the end of the year.

First and Ospika is one of 43 crossings scheduled for some form of attention according to council.

Also on the list is Davis and Ospika, the site of another collision late last year.