The Stay at Home Mother

This past Monday evening, a four year old boy named Jason Knee, was crossing an intersection in Port Coquitlam with his mother, and was struck by a dark SUV that fled the scene. He was rushed by emergency workers to the Royal Columbian Hospital and has since been moved to the BC Children's Hospital in critical condition.

It is every mother's worst nightmare, and I can't even begin to imagine what the family is going through right now. Why would the driver flee the scene after striking an innocent child and leave him and his mother behind to find help?

I have attached the full details of this story in my BLOG - and if you live in the area - email it to everyone you know. And if you saw anything or know of anyone who has front end damage to their SUV, call the authorities immediately. Help the family locate the person responsible for this tragic event. My prayers go out tonight to the Knee family and their beautiful son Jason.

Lynn Miller was sitting in front of her house on Prairie Avenue at about 8:30 p.m. Monday when she saw her friend Susan Knee and her four-year-old son Jason walk by.
According to Miller, the little boy was having a tantrum.
“Jason was screaming his guts out,” said Miller.
A few minutes later, Miller heard a strange sound.
“I heard a little bit of a bang, then I heard a woman screaming,” said Miller. “Then one of the guys from [another] house came by and said ‘Some little boy just got hit by a car.’ And my heart just dropped — because right then and there I knew it was Jason.”
The intersection where Jason was hit — Prairie and Wellington — has no traffic light and neighbours say they have been complaining about it for years.
“People have been petitioning . . . but nothing has come out of it,” said Kevin Grumm, who lives across from the intersection.
Following Monday night’s crash, Jason was rushed to Royal Columbian Hospital in critical condition. On Tuesday he was transferred to BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, where he was in serious to critical condition.
According to police, the vehicle that struck Jason — believed to be a dark sports utility vehicle — fled the scene.
Igor Zahynacz, director of engineering and operations with the City of Port Coquitlam, said the intersection has been identified for potential upgrades by the city and the Insurance Corp. of B.C.
“We have been receiving complaints for the entire stretch of Prairie Avenue for the last number of years,” said Zahynacz. “The intersection of Prairie and Wellington Street was listed for a further review for putting up traffic signals.”
He said the city and ICBC have set aside $84,000 in joint funding for upgrading the high-traffic intersections on Prairie Avenue.
Following Monday’s crash, he said, the Wellington intersection will be discussed at a traffic meeting on May 1.
Miller said she didn’t know where Knee was heading the night of the collision, but said she would often see her and Jason out in the evening.
“She walks late at night all the time with her child,” she said.
Terry Bizeau, who also knows Knee, said she thinks she was probably returning home after getting some groceries.
Miller said she first met Knee about five years ago when she moved into the neighbourhood.
After Knee had Jason, she would take him to Miller’s house several times a week to play in her yard and with her toy poodle Caviar — “because my yard has grass and it has a swimming pool and [her] backyard was all driveway,” said Miller.
Knee and Jason moved several times after that, said Miller, but they always remained in the neighbourhood and would come by for visits.
Miller said Jason could be a handful.
“He’s a very high-energy child,” she said. “It’s hard to keep him settled down ... I don’t know how many times I’d chase him down the alleyway [telling him] to stay off the road. He would try to ride his tricycle on the road.”
Knee volunteered with a food bank at Trinity United Church but didn’t work, said Miller.
About a week ago, she told Miller she feared she was going to be kicked out of her house.
“She came over the other day and said she got evicted,” said Miller.
Coquitlam RCMP Const. Brenda Gresiuk said police are looking for the dark SUV involved in Monday’s crash — which she said may have some front-end damage as a result of the impact.
Police are asking anyone with information on the collision to call them at 604-945-1550. VANCOUVER SUN

***AN UPDATE APRIL 27/07***

Well - it's not entirely good news - but little Jason is now out of his coma. He still does not recognize his mom and its still not clear how complete his recovery will be. He suffered serious head injuries in the April 9th hit and run and Police have STILL not found the driver responsible....

His mother must be so devasted over this, and I just cannot imagine how she is coping, but I hope she is staying strong for her son and I pray her little boy makes a full recovery.

***AN UPDATE MAY 23/07*** IN THE PROVINCE NEWSPAPER

Four-year-old hit-and-run victim Jason Knee is back in intensive care at B.C.Children's Hospital after a setback with his breathing.

He came out of coma of more than two weeks after being hit by a red SUV in early April while riding his bicycle in Port Coquitlam. He was returned to ICU and has had various procedures done since that time.

The procedures are to stabilize his breathing. He is still unable to communicate in any meaningful way.  Jason suffered swelling of the brain, a broken leg, internal injuries and scrapes and bruises.

Police still have not located the red SUV-type vehicle that was seen leaving the scene of the accident in the 1600-block Prairie Avenue. 

Whoever is repsonsible for this little boy's terrible condition - must come forward.  He is everyone's son.  And we should all be concerned when something of this magnitude happens to a child, and the person responsible is not held accountable.