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'I thought I lost her': Elgin crash survivor grateful to be alive

Randi-Leigh Pomerleau remains in hospital Friday with internal bleeding after Thursday crash
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Randi-Leigh Pomerleau, who survived a crash on Elgin Street Thursday night, after her parked car was struck by a drunk driver, said she is grateful her three-year-old daughter, Maple, was not on board at the time. Supplied photo.

Randi-Leigh Pomerleau says she is grateful to be alive after her parked car was struck by a drunk driver on Elgin Street Thursday night. 

“I spoke with the paramedic this morning who responded and he can't believe I'm alive,” she said.

Pomerleau was in the driver's seat of a Hyundai Santa Fe and had three passengers – her husband, Eric, and two friends – who exited the car moments before it was struck by an Infiniti that was travelling well over the 50 km/h speed limit.

She spoke with Sudbury.com from Health Sciences North, where she was still admitted for her injuries, which included some bruising, a chipped front tooth, and bleeding in her brain.

Her husband said doctors at the hospital discovered the internal bleeding after she had a CAT scan Thursday night.

She had a second scan today to determine the severity of her injury and was still waiting for the results when she spoke with Sudbury.com.

Pomerleau said she has a good sense of humour, which she has used to help her cope with the traumatic event.

“I'm very angry he chipped my front left tooth,” she said about the drunk driver who collided into her car.

That driver, a 36-year-old man whose name has not been released, faces multiple charges, including impaired driving causing bodily harm. He's also accused of breaching a court condition that he abstain from drinking alcohol.

Eric Pomerleau, Randi-Leigh's husband, said the couple plans to follow the accused's case closely, but for now his main focus is his wife's health.

“I thought I lost her,” he said.

They had just arrived downtown and were about to go out for dinner when their vehicle was struck. 

Randi-Leigh said as her passengers exited the vehicle, she was just waiting for the Infiniti to drive by before she got out of the car.

The collision pushed the Santa Fe forward several car lengths, and caused a chain reaction of collisions with other cars parked along the roadway. The Santa Fe collided with a Toyota Prius, and that car slammed into a Honda Accord.

“I remember waking up and I was hanging outside of the passenger side window,” Pomerleau said.

She said was most grateful her three-year-old daughter, Maple, did not come with them that night.

“She was actually supposed to come to dinner with us and changed her mind at the last minute that she wanted to go to her grand-maman's house,” she said. “Honestly, I do not think she would have survived that.”

One other person, a female passenger in the Infiniti, was also injured from the crash.