Friends of injured woman raising money for family

Friends of a Whitehorse woman seriously injured in a single-vehicle rollover last week are raising money to send family members to be by her side at a Vancouver hospital .

Friends of a Whitehorse woman seriously injured in a single-vehicle rollover last week are raising money to send family members to be by her side at a Vancouver hospital.

Kaci Delafosse, 20, had just gotten back to the territory from hair styling school in Red Deer, Alta., when she and her friends took a road trip to Dawson City for last weekend’s music festival. Delafosse was a passenger in the vehicle.

They were just outside of Pelly Crossing last Thursday evening when their vehicle veered off a gravel stretch of the North Klondike Highway in a construction zone.

The RCMP say the driver lost control, drove off a seven-metre embankment and the vehicle rolled.

Delafosse, who had not been wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle.

Police say the driver was sober, but alcohol was being consumed in the vehicle, which may have been a factor in the incident.

They also say the vehicle was travelling well in excess of the posted 70 km/h speed limit.

All three occupants were treated at the Pelly Crossing Health Services Centre.

Delafosse and the other passenger were medevaced to Whitehorse General Hospital. The driver was treated locally for minor injuries.

Friends say Delafosse suffered three major breaks in her back, but did not sever her spinal cord.

Her arm was broken in two spots, and she has a lacerated liver.

Delafosse was later medevaced to a hospital in Vancouver for further treatment.

She has since undergone three surgeries and will remain in hospital for at least a week, friends told the Star Tuesday.

Friends of the family have raised enough money to send Delafosse’s mother to Vancouver to be with her, but are looking for further donations for accommodation.

Those who want to donate to the family’s costs can call 335-4766.