Winkler woman who survived Dominican bus crash fights for compensation

A Winkler woman who survived a bus crash that killed two Manitobans in the Dominican Republic is still feeling the effects of broken bones as she fights to be compensated for lost wages.

Justina Bueckert touched down in the Punta Cana airport on March 1 with a new friend, Ivy Last-Klippenstein. Bueckert, 44, was taking time off following a break-up, moving back to her hometown and opening a home-based massage therapy practice.

After a two-hour luggage delay, Bueckert, Last-Klippenstein and 13 others climbed on a bus that would take them to their resort on the outskirts of Santo Domingo. It was raining on and off and the traffic was ‘chaotic,’ Bueckert said.

An hour or so into the ride, the bus driver took an exit off the highway a little too fast. Bueckert remembers the panicked look on his face.

“He’s grabbing the steering wheel, trying to stay on the road, and I can see us veering off. And then I thought to myself, oh, my goodness, is this really happening?” Bueckert said by phone Monday.

The next thing she remembers is waking up on the floor of the bus. She didn’t know it at the time, but she had broken her humerus and multiple other bones on the left side of her body.

“I hear chaos on the bus, people moaning and yelling and someone was saying that there’s somebody stuck, they needed somebody to help immediately,” she said.

Bueckert and several other survivors, as well as the family of one woman who died, are weighing their options to seek further compensation from the airline behind the trip.

While her hospital care was covered by Nexus Tours, a company associated with Sunwing, Bueckert wants her loss of wages due to her recovery time covered by the firm.

Bueckert received several X-rays, CT scans and pain medication while in a Dominican hospital. She underwent two surgeries, one on her humerus and the other on her right clavicle, and stayed in hospital to recover for a week and a half.

Tests also found Bueckert had nine broken ribs, some broken bones along her spine and a separated shoulder that may require surgery. She has limited use of her left arm and could be out of work for another three months, doctors said.

Adding insult to injury, Bueckert’s phone, $250 in Dominican and Canadian cash and two of her credit cards were stolen from the crash site.

A Sunwing employee told her to keep her receipts for a new phone, physiotherapy, counselling and medication. If they get approval, they will reimburse her.

Sunwing did not make anyone available for an interview Monday. In an emailed statement, the company said it is assisting individuals and families “as we are able.”

“We cannot speak to the details for specific individuals, as they will be managed on a case-by-case basis,” the statement said.

All expenses for the repatriation of the deceased are being covered by Sunwing, the statement noted.

Sunwing flew out Bueckert’s friend to support her while in hospital and organized a weeklong stay at a resort for them after she was discharged so she could continue to recover before flying home.

Last-Klippenstein suffered a head injury and was also hospitalized. She flew home with Bueckert on March 18.

After returning to Manitoba, a group chat was created with other survivors to stay connected and discuss next steps with the airline. Some are debating getting a lawyer involved.

“These are going to be ongoing issues and ongoing expenses that we’re going to have to deal with, and we do need support from the people that were responsible for the accident,” she said.

The son of one of the women who died on the bus is encouraging victims to seek compensation from Sunwing.

Ashton Kropla’s mother, Kim Pattyn, was one of two Manitobans who died in the crash. Colleen Fullerton, 67, from Lockport also died.

Kropla repatriated his mother’s body on March 21 and her funeral is scheduled for Thursday. He said the family is reeling from the devastating loss.

“Everyone is sort of just really hurting at this point and figuring out how to live,” Kropla said Tuesday.

Bueckert credits her faith in helping her survive the crash and the aftermath. She has also seen the generosity of strangers throughout her experience. While in hospital and in pain, she used her limited Spanish to call for help. Valery Amparo, a local woman who was visiting another patient, came to her aid.

“From that moment on, she became my advocate, my friend,” she said. “She kept coming back every day, multiple times a day, to take care of me.”

The pair are now Facebook friends and keep in touch.

Friends back home also supported her recovery. A Gofundme set up for Bueckert had raised more than $13,500 as of Tuesday.

The road to recovery is long, but Bueckert hopes to get back to work soon so she can help others.

“I feel like God was really showing me that he was by my side throughout all of those hard times. He was sending me people and love that I needed in that moment, and he provided for me,” she said.

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca