Charges announced in collision that sent Arthur woman to hospital, killed guide dog
Judy Chapman ‘cautiously optimistic’ as she stands for first time after being hit
ARTHUR – A Markdale man has been charged after a woman was hit by a transport truck in Arthur last month.
Judy Chapman, a 77-year-old local blind woman, and her guide dog Jemma, were struck while attempting to cross Highway 6/George Street in downtown Arthur around noon on April 9.
Police say the truck was driving north on Highway 6 and attempting to turn right onto Frederick Street East.
Chapman was airlifted to Hamilton General Hospital with serious injuries and Jemma was declared dead at the scene.
On May 26, Wellington County OPP announced that Dale Curry, 60, of Markdale, was charged with careless driving causing bodily harm and failing to yield to a pedestrian.
Curry is expected to appear in Guelph court at later date.
Meanwhile, Chapman continues to recover and has left Hamilton General Hospital, where she received emergency surgery on both legs.
“It’s tough, she’s trying to deal with her own challenges as far as both the emotional and the physical since this all happened, and as well grieving the loss of Jemma,” Chapman’s niece Carol McIntosh told the Advertiser by phone on May 28.
“Some days aren’t too bad, other days are maybe a little better and then other days are worse.”
McIntosh added Chapman has been confined to a hospital bed for months “laying there and just thinking about things all the time.”
McIntosh, who recovered Jemma’s body from the scene, regularly visits her aunt at St. Joseph's Health Centre in Guelph, where Chapman is now undergoing rehabilitation after a weeks-long stay for post-operative care at Groves Memorial Community Hospital.
“They've just started to allow her to bear weight on her left leg 100% this week, and 25% on her right leg,” McIntosh said, adding Thursday was the first time Chapman had stood since being hit.
“It’s the start of her [rehabilitation] now that she’s able to do things like that, so that’s a positive step."
Every few weeks Chapman visits Hamilton doctors to check how her bones are healing.
“It’ll be a while; it won’t be as fast as she wants,” McIntosh said of her aunt’s recovery.
“I would say she’s cautiously optimistic ... She’s feisty for her age … that’s what you need to be.”
According to McIntosh, her aunt is relieved the police investigation has concluded but doesn’t want to be involved in the legal process.
“She understands it was an accident; she doesn’t really dwell on that part of it,” McIntosh said.
Her aunt isn’t harbouring anger toward the driver, McIntosh said, and is instead focused on her recovery.
“Ultimately her goal is to get out there and get another dog and get going.”
