Semi damage could leave family out of home for several months

Samer Shehadeh and his family will not be moving back into their home for several month after it was hit by a semi.

The townhome, on the corner of Gordon Drive and Cameron Avenue, was severely damaged in the collision in mid-April.

He and his family are currently staying in an Airbnb.

Shehadeh said the structural damage is severe, but the engineers anticipate the truck will be removed within the next two weeks.

“They still need to provide support around the house and shore it up,” he told Kelowna10. “Once that’s done, they’ll have a safety plan so we can get more contents out.”

He said it could take 8 to 12 months to get the home repaired.

The entire ordeal has been extremely stressful for his family, he said.

“Everyday we are always trying to think about what we need and what we are doing. It is not easy to be uprooted from your house, the place you call home,” he added.

Shehadeh said the collision is not the first major incident to occur at the corner and called on the city to examine the intersection and make it safer.

An online fundraiser has been set up to help financially support the family. He said friends, family, and even strangers have reached out to help.