A huge part of the trauma of our accident is that the other driver lost his life. We knew he wasn't from around here, but we wondered who he was. Then his girlfriend's parents came through the gate to Waterton National Park and told Teegan Keeler that they were coming to be with their daughter whose boyfriend was killed in a car accident the day before. And they told her he was from Viking. I looked up Viking funeral homes and found his obituary. It was emotional and healing to learn about him. He was a loved young man. I also learned a couple other things from looking him up on Facebook and from the tow truck driver who met his dad. He was born premature and only weighed 2 lbs 12 ounces or something like that, so it was a miracle that he even lived. His mom passed away from breast cancer when he was 8. So each time I drive past the site of the accident and see his skid marks, I think about how his angel mom and others were there to take him to heaven.
I did order a potted flower to be sent to his funeral. The card said, we are sorry for your loss. Our community is praying for you. Love, Barb & Kaylynn the passengers in the other car
Brandon's dad did message Barb on Facebook to tell her thanks for the flowers and he hopes she heals quickly.
Brandon Cameron Rauser was born June 3,
2004 in Edmonton, Alberta and passed away suddenly on October 2, 2022 at the
age of 18 years.
Brandon is survived by his dad Jay and
sister Kelly. Grandparents Lance and Connie Rauser, Norman Safranka, and Sylvia
Hoffman (Donnie), Great Grandmothers: Norma Hogstead and Rose Safranka, Aunts,
Uncles and cousins: Michael Safranka (Angie), Axel, Avery, Christine Zarski
(Sheldon), Brayden, Quinton, Kailyn, Melanie Zarski (Dennis), Carson, Madison,
Brian Zarski (Lisa), Brett Winczura (Darren), Kami Brittain (Gary), Presley,
Sloan, Corbin, Morgan Rauser, his girlfriend Madalynne Ruzicka, numerous
friends and extended family.
Brandon is predeceased by his mom
Cindy, Grandma Cheryl, and his Uncle Doug.
He was loved by all who knew him. His
generosity, work ethic, and huge heart were admired by all. Brandon enjoyed
playing football, basketball, hockey, riding his quad, golfing with his dad,
fishing, boating, and he loved doing yard work! He loved to mentor and torment
his young cousins whenever possible. Brandon had a strange obsession with LED lights
and online shopping. He was always looking for a charity to donate his hard
earned funds to that would benefit sick children, animals, and breast cancer
research. Brandon lit up any room that he walked into and was always on the
hunt for someone to converse with, often seeking out his former elderly mowing
customers, and loved receiving payment in cookies! Brandon tended not to be a
very early riser; that could have been due to staying up until the middle of
the night watching tiktoks and sending them to former customers and school
teachers, or the late nights of eating snacks and playing games. Brandon was a
very fit young man, you would not be able to tell by looking at him that he
could and would eat a bucket of chicken, a dozen donuts, and a case of iced
tea; that just being the appetizer. Small tasks often took much longer than
necessary because Brandon was easily distracted by blaring the music in his
truck or playing with his cats. Sharing our fond memories and stories of
Brandon will bring us happiness and keep his memory alive. Brandon will be
forever remembered by all who knew and loved him.
A
service will be held at the Viking Community Hall on October 12, 2022, at 2PM
with an inurnment to be held at Golden Valley Cemetery, Viking, Alberta to
follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be
made to a charity of one’s choice.
Dan Gillis from Sedgewick, wrote on Oct. 5,
2022
A Dedication to be
read at our home game tonight (October 5). Thanks to the Rauser family for
raising such a wonderful athlete and friend. In Memory of Brandon Rauser #89 WR
We pause to honour a Ram’s Alumni, #89 Brandon Rauser from Viking. Brandon
passed away suddenly last Sunday and we wish to honour him and his family today
with some thoughts. Sports has a unique way of bonding athletes together
through hardship and struggle. After any game, many would only remember the
score and some highlights. The players will experience the game in a more
meaningful way and it shapes who they are. Brandon’s impact on the lives of
those who knew him would shape theirs. He was the consummate teammate - he was
positive and encouraging in challenging times. He pushed himself physically
through pain and injury to support his friends. He is remembered for being
outgoing and athletic in many sports. Perhaps the most important was his
connection to the community and special causes. His father, Jay, remembers how
Brandon would take the time for others, including elderly folk who he served in
the community. Brandon’s example of using his gifts and talents to help others
is something we should all strive for. Please join with us to honour Brandon.
His jersey number 89 will be retired this year as a reminder of how sports can
make caring communities and powerful people. Thank you.
Text from Mom:
Send dad to in front of Jeff Bevans. We been in an accident
Text conversation to the family group chat:
Austin: She ok but not good
Lucy: Are you going to the hospital
Hanna: What's wrong
Jill: Ya what's wrong
Austin: Yes
Hanna: Mom got in a car wreck
Lucy: In Cardston or Lethbridge
Jill: Wait what
Austin: The other car is totaled guy was thrown from car
Hanna: What's wrong with mom
Jill: Oh my goodness
Larsen: That's scarey
Austin: Kaylynn I'll come in as soon as I can get through this mess
Hanna: Any news dad
Carly: They are going to Cardston hospital
Hanna: I know that
Kaylynn: I love hospitals
Lucy: Don't pass out
Larsen: Kaylynn are you okay?
Kaylynn: I'm ok. I am just seatbelt sore. And my bladder didn't hold. Sore neck
Larsen: Thank goodness!
Austin: Kaylynn I am in waiting room, no one at window
Kaylynn: I'm not in a room yet. There's some trauma in the next room.
Austin: Ya, they won't let me in there. Sorry, are you ok
Kaylynn: I'm ok. I haven't had to wear a mask since March 1. Barb must have gone to Lethbridge?
Austin: Yes. they worried about pain level. Kaylynn you are blessed your side of the car is gone.
Kaylynn: Travel guardian angels I guess
Austin: Kaylynn text your mom. I called her but you should let her know your ok.
Hanna: Glad your alright Mom
Kaylynn: Thanks. Glad it wasn't my time
Lucy told us later she would have liked a little more detail from the first part of the conversation: Mom is okay but not good.
On the evening of October 2, I sat on the couch talking on
the phone with our daughter, Hanna, who is attending school in Utah. Kaylynn
was at the Stake Centre at choir practice, and Lucy and Carly, our two girls at
home, lay on the floor listening to my conversation with Hanna, when out of the
blue, Lucy said, “Dad, mom just texted and she has been in a car accident,
come.” My first reaction was that they must have hit an animal, so I casually ended
my conversation with Hanna, found some shoes, and told the other girls to stay here
while and I’ll go see what is going on.
My level of concern quickly went to red as I stepped outside and could
then hear the noise and sirens of emergency responders.
The accident was only a mile from our home. I quickly drove
out of the driveway and started up the road, as I approached line of cars that
had already stopped, I realized I could get no closer in my car so I pulled
over to the shoulder and parked. I started on foot. As I approached the peak of
the small hill, not knowing what I would see in just a few more steps, I was
stopped and asked if I was medical support. My reply was, no I am one of the
husbands. In a few steps as I crested the hill, I could suddenly see the
severity of the crash, all of the sights, sounds and smells of the tragic car
collision. I continued to walk toward the car my wife was the passenger in.
As I approached the car, in a flash, suddenly all of the podcasts,
talks, keynotes and books I had ever read or listened to on wellness, anxiety,
stress and resilience entered my mind. Then a few short breaths, and a quick “you
got this speech” and I continued toward the crash site. My thoughts today are
focused around my personal speech of “you got this.”
***Then his talk was on 5 steps of spiritual resilience.***
As I continued
my walk towards the crashed car, I was approached by members of the Leavitt
Ward and the Mountain View Ward who were first on the scene, and they told me
Kaylynn was talking and was okay. As I approached the car, two very kind and
gentle first responders stepped back to allow me to see Kaylynn. She looked at
me and said, I’m okay, and then I looked across the car at Barb Salmon, the
driver of the car who was in worse condition, but still okay.
Life’s challenges,
both physical and spiritual, can push us to our breaking points. Building a
foundation of spiritual resilience can keep us in the moment and remind us
that, “We got this.”
An 18-year-old boy was driving from Waterton, and other drivers reported that he had been driving extra fast and passing cars all along the way. He came up over a hill and was going too fast for the car in front of him, and he couldn't pass because we were on the other lane. So he slammed on his brakes, lost control and skidded into our lane.
We saw him come into our lane and Barb yelled, "what's he doing?" and turned her wheels towards the middle of the road and then we collided. We hit the back of his car with the front passenger side of our car. All of the airbags went off, and there were a lot of them. They not only came out of the dash and the steering wheel, but they came from the roof to block the windows. The car spun a time or two and came to a stop.
Barb's first words were, Kaylynn, Kaylynn are you okay? I was okay. We were alive. Barb called 911 on her phone because I couldn't find mine. She started to talk to them, but then I took the phone from her. Barb was in a lot more pain. She broke her foot, probably from slamming on the brakes. I got disconnected from 911 and called Jesse, Barb's husband. He later told me that I was so calm when I told him we had been in an accident, and he thought Barb was talking to someone in the background and laughing, that he thought it was a joke at first. Barb definitely wasn't laughing, she was yelling, Jesse, Jesse.
Then 911 called me back and kept asking me questions. Then I found my phone and text Austin because I was on the phone on Barb's phone. It didn't immediately deliver, so I text Lucy.
The first people on the scene came to our car and got our doors open and asked us if we were okay. The first nurse, a lovely First Nations lady, asked if we were okay and told us to turn off the car. A young man opened my door, who also said he was a nurse. Then some other men came to our car and disconnected the battery of her car.
I did lift up the airbag covering the windshield and could see the other car ahead of us on the road, with a body on the road. Not good. He likely died instantly.
Soon we could hear the sirens. The EMTs came to us and started to assess us.
Austin and Jesse both got there and came to look in at us to see how we were. I told Austin I was okay.
Two emergency responders from the Blood Tribe took me in their ambulance to the Cardston Hospital. When we got there, they told us it would be awhile before they could help me, since they were having a trauma in the Emergency Room. We could hear them calling for the STARS helicopter to come pick up the little girl who was having the trauma. Then we heard over the radio that they cancelled STARS, and then we could hear the mother of the little girl crying and crying.
I had just been within a few yards of two people who had died.
Austin had come to the hospital by then. He had waited until they got Barb into her ambulance. She was in so much pain, especially from her broken leg, so they had to give her morphine to to reduce the pain so they could move her onto the stretcher. They took her straight to Lethbridge Hospital because they knew she would need surgery.
They took me in to get X-rays on my neck and chest. Nothing was broken. I was okay, and then they released me to go home.
I did stay home for a few days to recover. The seatbelts and airbags saved our lives, but they made us so sore. I had a seatbelt scar on my neck. My knees were sore and bruised from hitting the dash when we collided. I was so sore in my shoulders and back. The first few days Austin had to help me lay down and sit up. I had to use a straw in water bottle, since it hurt too bad to tilt my head to drink.
Barb had surgery on her leg on Monday and came home on Wednesday. She has a long road to recovery.
Angels & Airbags.
