LETHBRIDGE- In a matter of seconds, 28-year-old Ashley Cesar’s life changed forever.
10 years ago this week, Cesar was traveling along Highway 3. It was a nice sunny day, with good driving conditions.
She was enrolled in her first year of nursing, a life-long dream that was just beginning. But it all came to a crashing halt at the side of the road.
“I made eye contact with her, but she didn’t stop and then she came out into the intersection. I woke up on the side of the road, and then I realized I’d been in an accident.”
When Cesar was hit by another vehicle, she suffered extensive injuries. She shattered a bone in her leg, suffered a collapsed lung, broken ribs, a broken bone in her arm and major damage to her eye, causing scaring on her forehead and around her eye.
“I had to re-evaluate my career choice. I was told by my orthopedic doctor that I would never nurse, and to find another career path,” says Cesar.
After two grueling years of wheelchairs and crutches, life slowly began to move forward. However, she wants to prevent this type of struggle from happening to anyone else.
According to Alberta Transportation, between 2007 and 2011 alone, there were 27 collisions at the same Coalhurst intersection. 10 of those caused injury, and three were fatal.
Writing letters and talking to local MLA’s became a regular occurrence during Cesar’s recovery. Now, she continues to work towards preventing future life changing collisions.
“I fear that it is going to take somebody substantial to have an injury there, or unfortunately a death before something is going to change. Why do we have to wait for that to happen, why can’t we do something proactive?”
The town of Coalhurst along with the County of Lethbridge have been working with Alberta Transportation to try make the intersection more safe, but after decades of not coming up with a solid solution, the town of Coalhurst is now looking at their own options.
“We are looking at an alternate access road which would link with Highway 25 on the east side of town, that is the ultimate solution we are working on,” says chief administrative officer Kim Hauta.
New signage along Highway 3 has recently been installed.
In a statement to Global News, Alberta Transportation said in part:
“As the new Minister of Transportation, ensuring the safety of Albertans on our roads and highways is my top priority. I understand the safety concerns present at the intersection of Highway 3 and 51 Street in Coalhurst, and I am committed to working with both the Town of Coalhurst and the County of Lethbridge to find a solution. I look forward to meeting with municipal leaders in the near future to discuss the matter further.”
-Hon. Wayne Drysdale, Minister of Transportation
While Cesar waits to see those changes, she continues to move forward. With determination and a little extra time, she is now a nurse fulfilling her lifelong dream.
The town of Coalhurst has not said if or when the second entrance will happen, but are continuing to discuss all options for area safety.
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