‘I want my life back’: RCMP recommends charges in North Vancouver A&W crash

It comes a year after an A&W employee was left with life-altering injuries after a car crashed through the North Vancouver restaurant.

North Vancouver RCMP is recommending charges after a driver crashed into a fast food restaurant and severely injured an employee last March.

If the charges are approved by the BC Prosecution Service and the driver is convicted, Ruby Punzalan, the employee involved in the crash, said she will pursue legal action.

“I’m a victim and I need justice,” she said. “I would be very happy if the driver were put in jail.”

Punzalan, an A&W area manager, was standing next to a fryer in the restaurant when the driver smashed into the business. At the time, RCMP said the person behind the wheel was being investigated for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Punzalan has spent the last ten months largely relegated to her home, as she tries to heal from extensive burns to her face, chest and neck.

“I ask myself, why me?” she said.

‘Roller coaster’

The 43-year-old said while she’s happy to hear there may be accountability for the driver, it’s not enough to make up for how drastically her life has changed.

“It’s been a roller coaster for me,” she said. “It’s been very difficult and challenging. There’s a lot of things that I can’t do anymore.”

Punzalan said her mental health has suffered extensively due to the trauma from that day and that she regularly has flash-backs. She said it’s hard for her to leave the house, and she spends most of her time inside, completing puzzles.

“When I’m outside, it’s only my right eye showing,” she said. “It is difficult and uncomfortable for me. So I’ve lost a lot of enjoyment in life.”

Punzalan worked for A&W for around 17 years, starting as a cook, and then working her way up to become an area manager. She said she’d like to one day return to work, but it’s unclear when that may happen.

“I’m worried about my life,” she said. “I’m worried about my children.”

Financial support

According to Punzalan, WorkSafeBC is covering 90 per cent of her salary, as well as her medical bills and therapist appointments. She said ICBC contacts her monthly to check-in, but she has not received any compensation yet from the crown corporation.

In a statement to CTV News, ICBC said, “currently, WorkSafeBC is providing all recovery benefits for Mrs. Punzalan and we’re not aware of any additional benefits needed.” It added it will provide coverage for any treatments or benefits needed under Enhanced Care that aren’t covered by WorkSafeBC.

ICBC added it is also available to provide cash compensation to Punzalan, following her upcoming surgeries — including an eye surgery that Punzalan said was supposed to occur last July.

Surgery date still unknown

Nearly one year later, the Surrey woman is still waiting. She said her surgeon, who is based at Vancouver General Hospital, has told her it will occur early this year.

“What if this surgery never happens?” she said. “I want to have my life back.”

In an email, Vancouver Coastal Health said due to patient privacy considerations it is not able to publicly discuss details of specific cases, adding how it encourages anyone who is concerned about their care to connect with its Patient Care Quality Office.

Punzalan said her strength comes from her weekly counselling sessions and her family.

“I just put my life to God,” she said. “That’s all I can do right now.”