Regina mom speaks out after son hit by alleged drunk driver

On Sunday morning, Robyn Pollock sat watching her 16-year-old son eat his favourite pancakes at the breakfast table and thought about how lucky they were that he’s alive.  

“Just sitting across from him is just like,” her voice filled with emotion. “You know, we have our kid and we’re so lucky because so many families aren’t that lucky.”

Two nights before, he was driving his car with three friends. When he went to turn at the Pasqua Street and 9th Avenue North intersection, his car was hit by a truck that police say ran a red light.

The Pollocks live in Balgonie, but Robyn said she and her husband were in the city by chance. They got the call their son had been in a crash and she said they raced to the intersection.

Two people had to be taken to the hospital, but besides some concussions and soreness, Pollock said they’re all going to be alright. Pollock said if there were just a few seconds difference, the outcome could have been a lot different.

“There could have been four kids whose lives were lost. And let’s not forget about the van that was behind my son, also was an innocent young man of only 19 who just graduated high school last year,” said Pollock.

“It’s just not lost on us that it could have been way worse. The firefighter at the scene said ‘your kids are so lucky.’”

Barbara Key, 61, has been charged with two counts of impaired driving causing bodily harm and refusing a breath sample at the crash.

Pollock said she didn’t know an impaired driving charge had been laid until they were ready to leave and an officer approached and told her.

“Right then I just lost it, because that woman should have never been on that road.”

Pollock said it’s frustrating to know that, even with all the options out there to get home safely, people still drive while impaired.

She said her husband knew Tanner Kaufmann, who was killed by an alleged drunk driver in early September. Pollock said seeing what Kaufmann’s friends and family went through when he died was heartbreaking.

“Just the thought of, I mean, I just cried and cried and cried just to think of what could have happened to our kids.”

Pollock said she and the parents of the other teens who were in the car with her son are planning on being at Key’s upcoming court appearance.