GoFundMe launched for man hit by BC Transit bus in Victoria

CHEK

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched for the man hit by a BC Transit bus in downtown Victoria last week.

On May 10, Victoria Police say that one person was sent to hospital after a motor vehicle incident occurred with a bus near the intersection of Belleville and Douglas Street.

Sal Jordan Stephens tells CHEK News he was on his way home with his dog, travelling in his wheelchair.

“I don’t remember much, but I’m pretty sure from the news that I got hit by a bus royally, and got dragged,” said Stephens.

His wheelchair was pinned under the bus and he says he blacked out until waking up in the hospital. VicPD was not able to provide an update on the incident today. On May 10, BC Transit said it was conducting its own investigation into the matter.

“I survived a major accident,” Stephens added.

Stephens worked as a barber and originally used a wheelchair partially due to experiencing blood poisoning on his leg in 2022. However, his other leg had to be amputated as a result of the accident.

“I woke up at the hospital and [I heard] the plastic surgeon talking to me. He just said we’re getting rid of your leg. I just passed out again,” said Stephens.

He’s undergone two surgeries already and is expected to stay in the hospital for at least three more months, which will be followed by extensive physical therapy.

His twin sister, Sally Stephens has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help offset the costs.

While she’s taken time off work to spend time with him, she’s worried about his long road to recovery.

“I think he’ll be in a wheelchair for life now. I mean, just the rehab and fitting him for the prosthetic leg and the recovery,” said the sister.

Sal tells CHEK News that he hopes to make progress in his recovery by next week so that he can visit his dog in person for the first time since the incident.

Oli HerreraOli Herrera

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