‘Horrendous’ crash kills Calgary father; leaves daughter with life-altering injuries

A Calgary family is devastated after a crash near Sherwood Park left a man dead and his daughter with catastrophic injuries.

Family members are trying to come to terms with an Edmonton crash that killed a Calgary father and badly injured his daughter.

The three-vehicle collision happened on Anthony Henday Drive near the Wye Road overpass on Feb. 8.

Victoria Fortuna, 21, a student at MacEwan University, had blown a tire.

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She pulled over and called her mom, her dad and the Alberta Motor Association.

Her mom Colleen was flying back to Calgary from Phoenix, Ariz.

Her dad Paul was in Edmonton for business – and immediately went to help Fortuna change her tire.

“They were getting the equipment out of [Fortuna’s Chevrolet Suburban] and a Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by a 21-year-old plowed into the back of Suburban, which then hit Fortuna and her father,” said Laurel Cousens, Fortuna’s aunt.

Paul, 53, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Passing motorists stopped to check on Fortuna and provide first aid.

“A doctor and a nurse were able to perform life-saving measures on Fortuna, which helped stem the bleeding,” Cousens said.

Despite the help from Good Samaritans, Fortuna was badly injured, and both her legs had to be amputated.

“She’s had two surgeries so far,” Cousens said. “They have said that she may need another surgery in the short term.”

Fortuna was in an induced coma at the University of Alberta hospital, but is now awake.

“She’s dealing with such horrendous injuries,” Cousens said. “And she just wants a hug from her dad – and she can’t have that – and it’s heartbreaking to watch.”

Cousens says Fortuna and her father had a close relationship, both sharing a love for the Edmonton Oilers.

“At the time Victoria was born, the first person to hold her was Paul,” Cousens said. “So, the first face that Victoria saw was her dad’s. They had a special bond. They had the same sense of humour.”

Cousens says Fortuna is a fan of the arts and loves theatre, film and television.

She has had background roles in shows such as The Last of Us, Heartland and Billy the Kid.

Fortuna also walked in the Calgary Stampede Parade last summer.

“Because of the nature of Victoria’s injuries, she will never regain the life she had,” Cousens said. “But we are going to do everything we can to give her the best life and help support her ... And to regain the independence she had worked so hard for.”

The family has set up a GoFundMe campaign, raising nearly $200,000 for medical expenses.

Cousens says the money will be used to widen doorways in Fortuna’s mom’s home, build accessible ramps, construct an accessible bathroom and pay for an altered vehicle.

Fortuna is receiving physiotherapy and rehabilitation for her injuries.

A celebration of life for Paul was held in Calgary on Tuesday.

Both Fortuna and her younger sister attended it virtually through Zoom.

The family is asking for the husband and wife motorists who stopped to help Fortuna to reach out so they can personally thank them.

At this time, no charges have been laid in the crash.

The family says they want to see charges laid against the 21-year-old driver of the Cherokee, who suffered minor injuries.

“This is not the time for anger,” Cousens said. “It’s hard to put that aside, because it is so unfair and so unnecessary.”

Cousens thanked the lead detective in the case for answering questions at the hospital on his day off.

She is now calling on stricter enforcement measures for reckless drivers throughout Alberta.

“How many people have to die? How many more tragic, fatal accidents must happen before something is done?” she said.

Mounties, meanwhile, are reminding motorists to travel with caution.

“If you do need to pull to the side of the road for an emergent situation, pull over as much as possible. If safe consider pulling onto the grass,” said Alberta RCMP Cpl. Troy Savinkoff.

“If you are having mechanical issues or appear to be experiencing a flat, take the next off ramp and pull off of the freeway as soon as possible.”