WATCH ABOVE: A vigil for the victims of Monday’s deadly crash was held at the University of Alberta Wednesday night. Shallima Maharaj was there.
EDMONTON — Staff and students at the University of Alberta came together Wednesday evening to mourn the loss of three of their own.
The university has identified the victims as current students Zixuan Huang, 20, and Guanming Wang, 24, and former student Shitong Zhao, 20. They were killed Monday morning in a crash on the QEII south of Edmonton. A fourth person, a 21-year-old woman whose name has not been released, was seriously injured when the SUV they were in lost control and rolled into the ditch.
A candlelight vigil was held on campus Wednesday evening for the four young adults. A large group of people gathered around four candles, which were placed in the snow to represent each of the students.
“We are just reeling,” said U of A interim provost Olive Yonge. “It is such a tragedy when young people die like this.”
The president of the University of Alberta Students’ Union says it’s in times of tragedy like this when the campus needs to come together.
“It’s our first step in bringing everyone together, reminding each other that we’re not alone in dealing with this loss,” said William Lau.
All four of the people involved in Monday’s deadly crash are Chinese citizens. They were also volunteers with the Alberta Chinese Alumni Association.
“It’s really hard to accept a single life being lost, and in this case there’s all together three students who lost their lives at such a young age,” said Robin Mau, who knew the victims through the association.
With the tragedy happening at the same time as Chinese New Year, Mau says what used to be a time of celebration for the victims’ families will now be a painful reminder of their loss.
“In the future for these three or four families, what’s really going to basically bother them will be ever year, at the same time, instead of celebrating for the Chinese festival, those families are going to mourn their loss. That’s, I think, the biggest tragedy for every single family. And for us,” Mau added.
The victims’ families are currently on their way to Canada. University officials believe three families will arrive Wednesday night and the fourth will arrive early Thursday morning.
READ MORE: U of A students killed in QE II collision south of Edmonton
Many students are away from the campus this week because of Reading Week, but counselling services are being made available to students and staff.
Huang, Want and Zhao were all undergraduate students in the economics department. The fourth victim remains in hospital in serious but stable condition.
The University of Alberta banner, which flies above the administration building, has been lowered to half-mast. It’s a university tradition to lower the banner as a sign of mourning following the death of a current student, faculty or staff member.
Members of the Alberta Chinese Alumni Association are working to determine how they can help the victims’ families and the young woman who remains in hospital. The association says it is also considering putting together a scholarship fund in honour of the students who lost their lives.
With files from Shallima Maharaj, Global News.
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