The mother of Anastasia Adams has confirmed her daughter as the young woman struck by a train while crossing the CN rail yard in Terrace last week.
Josie Adams is at her daughter’s bedside in Vancouver General’s intensive care unit and says Annastasia is stable, but fighting an infection and facing a difficult recovery. At the time of this writing, she was in and out of consciousness with a broken back and ribs. Half of her foot has been amputated but further surgeries are required. In the worst case scenario, the family has been told her leg may require amputation below the knee.
Annastasia, known as “Anna”, was found conscious but uncommunicative next to the CN tracks just south of Atwood St. early morning Oct. 27. A Terrace man was walking his dog in the area when it alerted him to the young woman.
CN police are leading an investigation with RCMP into the circumstances of the accident but have not yet released a statement.
The family meanwhile is hoping to locate the bystander who found Annastasia so they can thank him. A traditional Give Basket has been passed around the family and community, which they would like to present personally to this man and his dog.
Little is known about what led to the accident other than Annastasia was agitated before attempting to cross the tracks.
“She was really upset about something,” Josie says. “She told the people she was staying with that ‘she just needs to see her mom, she’s going to see her mom and then she’ll be okay.’ The fastest way from where she was, to where I live, is through the tracks.”
Josie says her daughter is going through a difficult time with alcohol addition, but she wants the public to know she is a caring person who gets joy from seeing others achieve good things in life. Since the accident, some social media users have been critical of Annastasia for her decision to cross the tracks. Despite her daughter’s obviously poor choice, Josie says she doesn’t deserve the abuse.
“This is not the Terrace I know.” she says. “Our family, which is over 300 people, has been devastated by this accident…We as a family have all grown up to rally around our beloved, so this negativity only shows me how these people were raised. No matter what, our family looks at the positive: my daughter is alive today.”
Because of her drinking, Annasatasia’s children were taken out of her custody and given to their father. After that her addiction has worsened and she’s been on and off the street ever since.
“It took her spirit,” Jose says. “It’s been really hard for her and she hasn’t been able to come back. She’s tried very hard to sober up, but she always ends up back out there.” Family members have brought her and others food, checked up on her welfare and offered support when possible, but they struggle to help her break the cycle.
According to Josie, Annastasia has been placed on waiting lists each time she’s tried to check into a rehabilitation program in Prince George. When a spot opened up, she says, her daughter’s will to begin treatment was gone.
Speaking to the accident and public safety, she hopes her daughter’s tragedy can at least serve as an example for others crossing the tracks, but mostly help persuade government and CN to build a pedestrian overpass at the rail yard.
“It would help everyone, not just the homeless, but low-income people who can’t afford to drive and need to get from A to B really fast, like she did that night.
“My daughter always said she would never put me in this position, and I know it’s breaking her heart.”
The family is raising funds in the community for Annastasia’s brother and sister to be with her in Vancouver. For this or to help the family identify the bystander who found Annastasia text Jolene Adams at 250-641-1060.
