Woman dragged by van transferred from Vancouver hospital to GF Strong
Credit to Author: David Carrigg| Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2019 03:38:04 +0000
A woman who suffered horrific injuries after being dragged by a van in the Downtown Eastside in October has been released from hospital to recover at the GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre.
So far, family and friends have raised $254,000 to help with her continuing medical costs.
Desiree Evancio’s ordeal began just after midnight on Oct. 12 at the corner of Hastings Street and Jackson Avenue when she walked between a van its small trailer at a red light, then got caught as the vehicle drove away on the green light. Evancio was dragged for four blocks before the driver — with U.S. punk band Off With Their Heads — was alerted.
By that time, the 25-year-old had suffered horrific injuries.
Desiree Evancio was walking near East Hastings and Jackson Avenue on Oct. 12, 2019, when she was struck by a van pulling a trailer and became trapped under the vehicle.
Immediately after the accident, Evancio — who lost her right eye and nose — underwent a 10-hour surgery to replace her left cheekbone with bone taken from her leg. Her jaw was broken in three places and her left arm seriously damaged.
Evancio’s sister, Ashley Danh, has been providing updates on Evancio’s recovery and has said her sister is now out of hospital and at GF Strong in Vancouver.
“Overall, so far so good with the healing process and Desiree is in as good spirits as someone can be given her situation,” Danh wrote.
She has had more facial surgeries to rebuild her lips and doctors are trying to stretch the skin on her face so that it can be used for further reconstruction. Evancio still has a tracheotomy tube inserted in her throat, but has been able to breath on her own.
Danh wrote that her sister has started physiotherapy on her knees, one of which has a pin inserted to keep it from moving for another six weeks.
The driver of the van has returned to the U.S. and has not been charged.