Conservative candidate in serious condition, vows to continue campaign
From Penticton, British Columbia:
Derek Zeisman, the Conservative candidate in the B.C. Southern Interior riding, remains in intensive care in hospital after being seriously injured in a two-vehicle crash Tuesday afternoon south of Castlegar.
However, campaign organizers said Wednesday despite his injuries Zeisman has no intentions of quitting the campaign trail and vows to return to the hustings as soon as possible.
Zeisman was the lone occupant of Land Rover which collided with an oncoming sport utility vehicle on Highway 22 near the small Castlegar area community of Fairview. Zeisman was northbound on his way to Castlegar from his home in Trail at the time of the crash. Freezing rain was falling and driving conditions were described as treacherous.
Zeisman was seriously injured:
Zeisman suffered a broken femur, fractured pelvis, broken ribs and a collapsed lung in the accident and was sedated and on a ventilator Wednesday in Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital in Trail.
Danielle Jackson, his campaign manager, said Zeisman underwent surgery Tuesday night. He remained in intensive care Wednesday but was expected to be moved into a regular ward shortly and could be released from hospital within a week.
Jackson said she talked to Zeisman in hospital and he confirmed he wants to continue as the Conservative candidate.
"Even though he was ventilated and sedated, I asked him: 'Do you want to quit?' and he was shaking his head profusely," she said. "We're going to carry on and the party is offering all kinds of support."
Best wishes to Derek Zeisman for a speedy recovery.
The Liberal candidate, Bill Profili, slips in a veiled criticism of opposition leaders who were not willing to submit to Prime Minister Paul Martin's timetable:Liberal Bill Profili, a former B.C. Ambulance Service paramedic, said Zeisman may have been a victim of election timing.
"This is the price [of campaigning up and down icy highways in winter]," he said. "In an April election, you avoid these issues."
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Comments
A pathetic grasp for the heartstrings of SYMPATHY VOTERS?
Posted by: Raymond Hietapakka at December 24, 2005 10:54 AM
with that philosophy why not just ban motorized transportation in the winter, that would eliminate all motor vehicle crashes due to winter weather. Sounds like he'd like another 4 months for voter amnesia to set in.
Posted by: dave at December 24, 2005 12:00 PM
There is no way he'll remain in the race. This sort of injury will take at least a year to recover from.
OTOH, waiting a few days to assess the situation before finding an alternate candidate is always a good plan, especially considering the timing.
May God's Blessings and His healing hand be on Mr. Zeisman and his family.
Dennis
Posted by: Dennis Hayes at December 24, 2005 12:33 PM
The broken bones aren't the problem, it's that collapsed lung. It's possible to recover and be released within a week, but one infection = pnuemonia, and it'll turn into several months in intensive care.
As a medic myself, I'm suprised at Profili's comments. He obviously left his bedside manner behind with the uniform.
Posted by: RL at December 24, 2005 05:54 PM
That wasn't a fair comment about the road conditions, ice can happen in any month in Canada
Posted by: Saskboy at December 24, 2005 09:20 PM
Bill is a former City Mayor of a small town in riding and was unilaterally disliked by all and almost lost his maroralty seat to a 22 year old. Bill is a small town boy who believes the sun rises and sets on himself and his family, and is totally expected from someone of his calibur.
After spending the last few days in the riding, IF the cons team get off their butts and start properly campaigning, they can easily take this riding. The Lib's will be lucky to finish a distant 3rd.
Posted by: anon at December 25, 2005 07:23 PM
How could Bill Profili have been "unilaterally disliked by all" if he was on council or mayor for 22 years? He was the mayor for 16 years! He has experience and has done more for this area than any other candidate
Posted by: Truth Hurts at December 27, 2005 01:42 PM
An update, apparently the RCMP will be charging Mr. Zeisman for criminal negligence. The crash was caused when Zeisman attempted to pass several vehicles in severe weather conditions, and was met by an oncoming car.
Posted by: Shannon at January 7, 2006 08:47 PM
 
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