After brain blood clots and multiple fractures, mother of 11-year-old struck by car speaks out

Two weeks after her son was struck and seriously injuredat aSummerside, P.E.I.,crosswalk, Elise Arsenault issending out a plea to drivers watch out for pedestrians.

• 11-year-old seriously injured after being struck by vehicle in Summerside

"As a pedestrian, I've had to slap a few hoods of cars when I'm at a crosswalk and have the right away," Arsenault said at her Summersidehome.

'Like having a machine gun in their hand'

"People are very arrogant and bold. They don't realize that their vehicle is kind of like having a machine gun in their hand and could take a life very easily and quickly like my little boy's, who was just walking home from the ball diamond."

Arsenault's son, 11-year-old Gage Bowness saidhe realizes just how lucky he is to be alive and on his wayto a full recovery, given the seriousness of the accident.

Bownesssaid he was most of the way across a GranvilleStreet crosswalk near Queen Elizabeth Park on July 13,when he was struck.

"The car stopped [on one side] of theroad.So,I thought it'd be okay if I went by," he said. "I didn't know the other cardidn't stop."

'Worst evening of my life'

"He remembers a couple of rolls across the vehicle, so his head hit it a few times,"his mother added."It was the worst evening of my life, I'd say."

Arsenault said the impact left her son in critical condition with two blood clots in his brain, several fractures, and chippedvertebrae. Hehad to be airlifted to Halifax's IWK Health Centre, where heunderwent a successful brain surgery to remove the blood clots.

Bowness's mother said it's remarkable that two weeks later, he's back at home, already walking on his own with only some bruisesa few aches and pains, anda large scar across his shaved head to show for the accident.

'A thousand per cent lucky'

"A couple of the people working in our [IWK]unit said, 'you know, he's an exceptionally lucky boy because none of his soft organs were damaged, his face wasn't damaged, he can walk,'" Arsenault said. "They've lost people that have gone through such things."

"Out of one hundred, I feel a thousandper cent lucky. I can't believe I'm here, sitting with you now,"Bownessexclaimed.

Like his mother, the 11-year-old is hoping thatsharing the story of his accident will help send a message to drivers.

"They're really not good at stopping," he said. "If you see someone at a crosswalk, you should stop and let them go.It only takes five to 10 seconds, and you can keep on going as fast as you're supposed to go."

Both Bowness and his mother saidpedestrians shouldlearn from the accident as well.

"Wait until all lanes have stopped for you," Arsenaultsaid."I don't care if there's a car coming two blocks away. Wait for it if you have to.Put your hand up flat out to say, 'I'm walking here.'"

"Even if the car is fivemillion blocks down, I'll still wait until it comes all the way and stops," Bownessadded.

SummersidePolice Servicessaidthe driver of the vehicle accused of hitting Bowness was a 69-year-old man from Quebec. He was charged under theHighway Traffic Act for failing to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian in acrosswalk.

Police saidthe man has until August 14to enter a plea.

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