Woman hailed as a hero
Pushed daughter to safety seconds before being hit by out-of-control car
The woman seriously injured after being pinned to a St. Peter’s Road home by a car on Thursday is being hailed as a hero.
Angelique Swan suffered multiple fractures and a serious neck injury when an out-of-control car hit her near a school bus stop.
The family dog was killed in the same incident, but her commonlaw husband said quick thinking by Swan likely saved their fiveyear-old daughter.
“She really is a hero,” said Jason Maclean. “She obviously doesn’t want the title. Everybody is a little modest when it comes to that, but in my eyes she saved my little girl.”
His family lives on Sutherland Street, not far from the corner of Sutherland and St. Peter’s Road where Swan was hit.
Walking their five- year- old daughter to the bus stop is part of Swan’s morning routine. She doesn’t remember most of the incident that disrupted that routine at around 8:30 a.m. Thursday morning, but witnesses have told Maclean that she pushed their daughter, Stella, to safety.
The family dog that died at the scene was known as ‘Link,’ a rescue dog that had made a special bond with their family since they took him home in September.
“He blended right in with the family,” he said. “That’s one of the
hardest pills on top of the injuries. The kids are broken hearted.”
Though their daughter remains traumatized by the incident, she escaped any injury.
The 36-year-old Swan, however, faces a very long road to recovery.
Her injuries include a broken neck, a cracked collarbone, fractured ribs and many stitches on her forehead. She has extensive bruising all over her body, too.
The doctor treating her told Maclean it all could have been much worse.
“She was on the fortunate side that the impact wasn’t in the right spot where it caused her to
be paralyzed.”
Swan will wear a neck brace for a minimum of eight weeks as she recovers. A surgeon in Halifax next week will determine the actual length of time it must be worn.
Cape Breton Regional Police have filed charges in relation to the incident.
Zachary David Mackenzie, 24, has been charged with criminal negligence causing bodily harm and failure to remain at the scene of an accident.
He made a court appearance on Friday and has been remanded until a bail hearing on Monday.