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New beginning for youth

It’s been long road for a local boy who was run down by a truck two years ago, but his healing is almost over.
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Peter Thomas prepares to take part in a celebration of life ceremony this weekend. Thomas was seriously injured after being run over by a vehicle along Hector Road two years ago. The accident led to road improvements.

It’s been long road for a local boy who was run down by a truck two years ago, but his healing is almost over.

The family of Tseshaht tribe member Peter Thomas, 14, is hosting a celebration of life ceremony for him this weekend.

“We want to thank the community for their support when Peter was hit,” his mother, Linda (Wee-nuk) Thomas said.

“He wants to let go of what happened and move on with his life.”

On Aug. 8, 2008, Thomas was run down by a truck as he rode his bike along Hector Road near Paper Mill Dam.

He suffered extensive injuries after being pinned under the truck, and was in a Victoria hospital for eight days afterward.

“He’s often told me that while he was laying under the truck he feared that he would be paralyzed,” Linda Thomas said.

“I’ve always told him that God wanted him to be alive.”

Protests by Tseshaht tribe members about the road led to improvements such as widening and better driver sightlines, Thomas said.

Peter has almost fully recovered from the injuries he sustained as a result of the accident.

He still undergoes rehabilitation for his leg and can’t take PE at school.

He bears no ill feelings about what happened.

“He knows it was an accident and he has no hard feelings towards anyone,” Linda Thomas said.

“He’s just happy to be alive.”

reporter@albernivalleynews.com