West Linn High School parents Chris and Cornelia Seigneur were crossing Walling Way in West Linn, Ore. on Jan. 9 around 5:40 p.m. when a GMC Gold Yukon swerved from the center turn lane on Highway 43 and struck them. They were thrust into the opposite lane of traffic, and though no oncoming cars hit them, they were unable to stand. Soon, police cars and ambulances crowded the scene and the victims were rushed to the Intensive Care Unit at the Oregon Health and Science University.

“I was going to swim practice in a carpool and I passed the site,” Wesley Seigneur, junior and son of Chris and Cornelia, said. According to Wesley, his parents go on frequent walks along Highway 43, which is near their residence. “You could see emergency vehicles everywhere. I had a split moment where I thought it was my parents, but I kind of dismissed it. The chances of getting hit in a community of 30,000 people was that small, but I pulled up my phone after swim practice and it really said that they were hit. That was kind of tough to realize.”

Wesley’s thoughts then transitioned to the physical conditions of his parents.

“At first,” Wesley said, “I thought they got accidently rear-ended a little bit by a car and it was an easy hit, but once my brother [Micki Seigneur, junior] said that they were at OHSU in the ICU unit, I had a hard time comprehending. So I was a little scared for their health. I had a really hard time sleeping that night. My heart was pounding because I just didn’t know how they were doing.”

Chris took the full brunt of the impact and his worst injuries were hairline fractures to his pelvis in at least three different areas. He is wheelchair-bound and has been moved from OHSU to a hospital in Lake Oswego. He is likely remain there for at least another week. Meanwhile, Cornelia was discharged on Sunday, Jan. 11 and has been at home since then. She is ambulatory and suffered no broken bones, yet she lost part of her ear. Friends and family visit frequently.

“My mom had like a party goin’ on,” Wesley said, “ ‘cause she had so many people supporting her. All her friends came to support her, give her flowers. We came and visited her and she seemed like she was doing fine. My dad had a little less tolerance for people because he was so exhausted from being in the ICU. He still had visitors.”

The driver of the Yukon stayed on scene after the collision and cooperated with police. He admitted to having an alcoholic beverage, yet he was below the legal limit for Blood Alcohol Content.

The Seigneurs have, according to Wesley, received an “overwhelming amount of support” from the West Linn community. For instance, Wesley’s swim team members, neighbors and friends have registered to bring the family meals until mid-March.

“We’ve just had so much support because so many people who love and care for my mom,” Wesley said. “Just keep them in your prayers and your thoughts so that they both can have a full recovery.”

EDIT: Chris Seigneur has returned home from the rehab center last Saturday. He is working towards making a full recovery.