An active member of the Mill Creek community is at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after suffering near-fatal injuries following an auto accident in Lynnwood last week.
Bob Collard, a Mill Creek business owner, resident and chair of the city’s Planning Commission, was involved in an accident on Highway 99 Aug. 31.
According to Lynnwood police Sgt. Chuck Steichen, a preliminary investigation determined Collard, driving a Chevrolet Malibu, was traveling southbound on Highway 99 at approximately 5:30 p.m. He pulled into a left hand turn lane to go into Seaview Chevrolet. He turned in front of a large garbage truck, and the truck struck Collard’s car, throwing Collard’s into another vehicle. Collard was the only accident victim transported to a hospital for injuries, Steichen said.
Collard was driving a loaner car from Seaview and was returning it to the dealership. His regular car was being repaired.
Collard was in and out of a coma for several days following the accident and was in Harborview’s intensive care unit, according to an e-mail from the city of Mill Creek and Collard’s family. A recently-enacted federal privacy law prohibits hospitals from releasing the conditions of patients.
Collard’s condition improved over the Labor Day weekend, and on Tuesday, Sept. 7, an e-mail from the city of Mill Creek said Collard was moved out of intensive care and into a private room at the hospital after regaining consciousness. According to the e-mail, however, Collard had no short term memory.
Denise Collard, Bob Collard’s wife, said “He’s making a remarkable recovery. We’re hoping he’ll be discharged by Friday.” A date for his release, and whether or not he would be allowed to go home or transferred to another hospital, was not decided as of The Enterprise deadline.
Denise Collard said she believed insurance would cover all hospitalization costs.
In addition to chairing the Mill Creek Planning Commission, Bob Collard is active in the Mill Creek Business Association. He and his family own Comfort Keepers, a business specializing in in-home care for senior citizens, that is located in the Imperial Gardens shopping center in Mill Creek.
Denise Collard said family members are bonding together to keep the business going while Bob Collard recovers. A son, Rob, who works there part-time, will be working there full-time, and Denise Collard’s sister is also joining the business to help out, which will remain open.
“Our main concern is to let Bob focus on getting better and not worry about the business,” Denise Collard said.
Prior to opening Comfort Keepers, Bob Collard worked for the Lake Washington School District in King County as assistant superintendent for business and support services. He was also the facilities committee chair for the Washington Association of School Business Officials.
Lynnwood Police are still investigating the accident, Steichen said.
Lynnwood Enterprise editor Shannon Sessions contributed to this report.
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