In the quiet darkness of an April night, the lives of two young women changed forever on Calgary’s Stoney Trail. Aliyah Ramirez-Bernard and Sarah McNamee, both 19, were returning from a late dinner when their vehicle was struck from behind and erupted into flames—a horrific scene that could have claimed their lives if not for the extraordinary intervention of passing strangers.
“We were just driving, and then everything went black,” recalls Ramirez-Bernard from her hospital room, her voice steady despite the bandages covering nearly 40 percent of her body. “The next thing I remember is someone pulling me from the fire and telling me to keep fighting.”
That someone was Calvin Jones, a 42-year-old construction worker who, along with three other Good Samaritans, stopped when they witnessed the collision. Jones and the others braved the intensifying flames to pull both women from the wreckage mere moments before the vehicle was completely engulfed.
The crash, which occurred on April 12 near the McKnight Boulevard exit, has left both women with severe burns and multiple fractures. McNamee suffered burns to approximately 30 percent of her body and remains in intensive care, though doctors have recently upgraded her condition from critical to stable.
“The recovery process for burn victims is exceptionally challenging,” explains Dr. Marisa Chen, director of the Calgary Burn Treatment Center. “These young women are facing months of surgeries, skin grafts, and intensive physical therapy. But their youth and the remarkable support system they have give us tremendous hope for their recovery.”
That support system has materialized in remarkable ways. A GoFundMe campaign initiated by friends of the victims has raised over $175,000 in just two weeks—funds that will help cover medical expenses not covered by provincial healthcare and support the families as they navigate this difficult journey.
The driver of the vehicle that struck the women, a 27-year-old man, faces multiple charges including dangerous driving causing bodily harm and driving under the influence. Calgary Police Service continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision.
For the families of both women, the focus remains squarely on recovery. “We’re taking this one day at a time,” says Elena Bernard, Aliyah’s mother. “Some days are incredibly difficult, but we’ve been overwhelmed by the community’s support and the exceptional care from the medical team at Foothills Medical Centre.”
The incident has sparked renewed conversations about road safety in Calgary’s expanding ring road system. City Councillor Jasmine Patel has called for a review of safety measures on Stoney Trail, particularly in sections with higher speed limits.
“What these young women have endured is unimaginable,” Patel stated at a recent council meeting. “We have a responsibility to examine whether our infrastructure is keeping pace with increasing traffic volumes.”
The road to recovery for Ramirez-Bernard and McNamee will be long. Both face additional surgeries in the coming weeks, and rehabilitation specialists estimate their full recovery could take up to two years. Yet amidst the pain and uncertainty, moments of hope emerge.
“Sarah smiled today for the first time since the accident,” McNamee’s father shared in a recent update on the GoFundMe page. “These small victories mean everything to us now.”
As Calgary residents continue to rally around the two survivors, questions linger about how communities balance urban growth with public safety, and how individual choices behind the wheel can irrevocably alter lives in seconds. What responsibility do we all share in preventing such tragedies, and how might our collective vigilance create safer roads for everyone?
