It could take at least a year for a Lacombe man to recover from his injuries caused by a vehicle collision in late February.
Carrie Pelechytik said her husband Layne was about two km north of Blackfalds, heading south on Hwy 2A, when his car was struck head-on by a northbound vehicle at about 6:45 a.m. on Feb. 28.
Blackfalds RCMP said the driver of the northbound vehicle appeared to have lost control and went into the oncoming lane. The vehicle struck the back end of a southbound vehicle, that ended up on its side, before hitting Layne’s vehicle. Jaws of life were needed to free Layne.
The driver of the northbound vehicle was also injured. The crash is still under investigation by police.
Pelechytik said her husband “has got broken bones everywhere.”
He underwent surgery for about seven hours to fix his hip and still needs surgery for his crushed heel.
“He’s full of plates and screws in that hip. He has lacerations on his head, a broken rib, broken sternum. His heart was bruised. His lung had a small tear. His liver and his spleen has lacerations,” said Pelechytik from Edmonton where Layne, 42, is receiving treatment at University of Alberta Hospital.
Pelechytik said Layne, a long-time equipment operator for the City of Red Deer roads department, is not even allowed to sit up at this point.
“It’s been pretty rough for the first couple of weeks. He’s got good pain control now. He’s kind of settled,” said Pelechytik who has been living at an Edmonton hotel to stay close to her husband. Initially she was able to spend a few days at the University of Alberta Hospital outpatient dorm.
Once surgery is complete, he will be transferred to a hospital closer to home where he will require rehabilitation.
“We have no idea what the future holds at this point.”
A friend of the family started a GoFundMe account at — https://www.gofundme.com/gvxjh-healing-layne-pelechytik —that has raised $7,575 as of Monday.
Pelechytik, who is an optical dispenser at Lacombe Vision Centre and helps out at her family’s farm The Saskatoon Orchard, said her family has been well taken care of on every front.
“I don’t think we have the words to express how grateful we are to everybody that has rallied around us and supported us. Just the continual encouragement day in, day out. It’s just blown us away.”
The Pelechytiks have three children.
szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com
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