Long road ahead for Christopher Lake couple involved in head-on crash

A little more than a month after pulling himself and his wife from a burning vehicle, a man from Christopher Lake is talking about his experience and thanking the people who have come to his family’s aid.

Matthew Klassen, 32, can vividly recall the morning of Nov. 2 when he and his wife Ashley, 33, made the decision to drive to Regina to see a Saskatchewan Roughriders game. About a week prior, Ashley’s father had passed away and the couple thought the trip may be a great way to get their mind off the tragic news.

“We just decided to go to a Riders game to try and clear our minds and go and have a good time. Unfortunately it didn’t happen,” Klassen explained.

Roughly 10 kilometres north of Prince Albert, the Klassens were involved in a head-on crash on Highway 2. Matthew said the impact happened very suddenly but he could remember being conscious, and seeing flames shooting out from the head of the truck.

“My adrenaline kicked in and I tried getting out but my door wouldn’t open,” he recalled.

After giving himself a quick check over to see if anything was broken, Matthew climbed into the back seat and moved over to the passenger side where Ashley was sitting. He then asked his wife if she could move.

“She said, ‘I think so’ … so I just hauled her out and put her into a safe spot. People who witnessed it were throwing snow onto the truck to put out the fire, which they did,” Matthew explained.

Ashley Klassen with one-year-old son Benjamin. Benjamin was at his grandmother’s house when the crash happened. (submitted photo/Matthew Klassen)

Both Matthew and Ashley were taken to hospital, along with the male driver of the other vehicle. Matthew said he fractured his hip, and may need surgery to address a hernia but otherwise he will be OK. Ashley, who suffered multiple strokes as a result of internal bleeding, remains in hospital in Saskatoon, and according to Matthew, has a long road ahead.

“(Doctors) say it could be a year, it could be two years (to recover), we don’t know for sure,” he said.

Despite not being able to move her right arm, Ashley has shown signs of strength. With the help of a walker, she has been able to walk short distances and get herself out of bed. She has also been able to communicate with her family.

“She tries to say sentences but it doesn’t come out the way she wants it to and so she struggles and gets frustrated but we just encourage her to keep trying,” Matthew said.

The Klassens have received support from people and organizations across the province, including the Roughriders and Saskatoon Blades.

The Klassens have received support from people and organizations across the province, including the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Saskatoon Blades. (submitted photo/Matthew Klassen)

At the time of the crash a gofundme was created to assist the family with medicals costs. As of Tuesday the campaign had raised more than $16,000.

“We got all the help and support we needed until things start getting better for us. But in the meantime we are still getting through it,” Matthew said.

In addition to financial support from the Blades organization, the Roughriders have also reached out to the Klassens and told them they will be a part of a special ceremony prior to a game of their choosing, when they are both feeling up to it.

The RCMP has told paNOW the cause of the crash remains under investigation.