Worker ‘very seriously injured’, remains in hospital
The family of a worker who was injured when an SUV crashed into a Zehrs supermarket in Ontario earlier this week is now considering filing a civil complaint, according to a report.
A routine afternoon at the supermarket in LaSalle, Ontario, was shattered on Monday when a 73-year-old woman drove her SUV through the store’s front windows, striking and seriously injuring a 42-year-old employee.
Reynaldo Melendez was pinned beneath the vehicle as a result of the crash, where he remained until first responders came to his aid, according to the report.
Shortly after 2:30 p.m., LaSalle police responded to the incident in the 5800 block of Malden Road. The worker was transported to hospital with serious, but not life-threatening, injuries, according to police.
Melendez has now retained the services of law firm Greg Monforton & Partners, according to a CTV News report.
“Reynaldo is very seriously injured and is still in hospital recovering from multiple issues including surgery, a significant head injury, spinal fracture and other fractures,” Joanna Sweet, managing partner at the firm, said, according to the report.
“He was quietly sitting at work and without warning he was unbelievably mowed down by an SUV that crashed through the front window of the cafeteria.”
Sweet said Melendez’s family has asked that they “get to the bottom of what happened and why.”
“I like to find out everything I can about the situation. And in this day and age, there are a lot of cameras out there. There are a lot of eyewitnesses,” Sweet said.
LaSalle police have charged the 73-year-old woman with “careless driving causing bodily harm.” She is required to attend provincial offences court at a future date.
Civil complaint possible
However, Sweet said Melendez’s family is also looking to file a civil complaint against the suspect.
“The nature of a civil lawsuit is different than criminal. And so sometimes I’m looking for a little bit of different information. And so, it’s very helpful if anyone who has any knowledge comes forward.”
CTV News noted that Sweet did not say whether Zehrs LaSalle or its parent company Loblaw will be named as defendants in the suit.
Sweet is also asking witnesses to call her office at 519-258-6490.
