‘We’re keeping our hopes up:’ Family of Steinbach man struck on highway prays for recovery, answers

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This article was published 01/03/2025 (394 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A 26-year-old single father is clinging to life in hospital after he was struck by a car while coming to the aid of a stranded driver near Steinbach Wednesday.

Michael Bueckert suffered numerous broken bones, brain hemorrhaging, a spinal injury and internal bleeding in the crash that happened around 6 a.m. on Highway 52 west of Steinbach Wednesday.

His Steinbach family — still coming to grips with the horrific accident — was dealt another blow Saturday morning when doctors were unable to wake Bueckert.

“Even with no sedation on him, Mikey’s not waking up yet,” Ryan Fast, Bueckert’s brother, said after receiving the news.

The accident happened after Bueckert stopped to help a stranded motorist who had slid into the curb because of icy conditions.

Bueckert had just dropped off his five-year-old son with a babysitter.

Fast, who passed the accident on his way to work, said the stranded driver told him that he yelled at his brother to alert him of the car coming towards them.

Bueckert slipped on the icy road trying to get out of the way then was struck, the stranded driver told Fast.

Bueckert, a forklift operator at a nearby steel mill, was thrown 15 feet on impact, said Fast. The stranded driver told Fast he believed the car was going around 80 km/hr, the posted speed limit on the highway.

The car that hit Bueckert collided into the stranded vehicle and Bueckert’s truck, Fast was told.

Bueckert was rushed to a nearby hospital, where Fast said he received around four pints of blood. He was then flown to Health Sciences Centre, where he was given another six pints.

“Doctors had no idea how he survived,” Fast said. “They couldn’t come up with an answer. He lost so much blood. Luckily, his son wasn’t with him.”

Bueckert remains in critical condition.

“It’s touch and go,” Fast said.

Fast said Bueckert’s brain was “unresponsive with no activity whatsoever” Saturday, but Sunday “we have been blessed with activity again.”

Bueckert moved his body a little bit and opened his eyes Sunday.

“Anything is possible, but we are super faithful that his brain is responsive again today,” Fast said.

Fast said he doesn’t know why the driver who hit his brother didn’t see him.

RCMP said Saturday the investigation remains ongoing and that no charges have been laid.

Fast said they did not received an update from police on Sunday.

Bueckert’s babysitter started a GoFundMe for him Thursday. As of Sunday, it had reached the $25,000 goal with 280 donors.

“It’s been an incredible response and support,” Fast said. “And it’s not just the money from the GoFundMe, but the food people have been sending and the prayers, a massive thing that we all believe in.”

Saturday morning, Fast was moving his brother’s belongings from his apartment into his mother’s house, where they hope they can care for Bueckert and his son when he’s discharged from hospital.

Fast said his brother is a hard worker and a devoted dad.

“His life revolves around his kid,” Fast said. “Being a single dad with little help being a parent, he’s a phenomenal parent. He’s a phenomenal person. Kind-hearted. He lights up the room with the random, crazy things.”

The family is leaning on friends, faith and each other.

“We’re holding it together, especially for my mother, who is devastated right now,” Fast said. “We’re keeping our hopes up and positive. Optimism is a very close friend of ours right now.”

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca