WINNIPEG — Two fatal crashes in two days on a small stretch of Highway 6 are bringing back painful memories and rekindling safety concerns.
On Monday, one person was killed just south of Warren and on Tuesday another person was killed in a head-on collision just north of Woodlands.
RELATED: 1 person dead after crash involving a semi near Warren, Man.
“It brings back that moment of terror where you think ‘Oh God it just happened to someone else too,’” said Cheryl Cathers.
Cathers’ 20-year-old daughter Erin was nearly killed in a crash on that stretch of highway almost six years ago.
She broke 33 bones and her recovery took a full year. She’s now working as a teacher and is about to get married.
“We were very fortunate to have that outcome. Typically it’s not,” said Cathers.
The crashes have also brought back concerns about safety on the highway.
RELATED: 2nd fatal crash this week on Manitoba highway
It’s a main supply route to northern Manitoba and the most direct route from Winnipeg to Thompson and The Pas.
“It’s just really not designed to handle the amount of traffic and the type of traffic that is currently on the road,” said Lee Garfinkel.
Garfinkel is part of a group called Highway 6 Concerned Citizens Coalition, which formed several years ago following a rash of fatal crashes.
The province has built two sets of passing lanes on the highway between Grosse Isle and north of Woodlands.
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“Passing lanes are strategically implemented in order to enable more free flow and allow traffic to dissipate over busy stretches of two-lane highway,” said a spokesperson with the Manitoba government.
However, Cathers and others, still believe more could be done to improve safety on the highway.
“Are there room for more improvements? Absolutely,” said Cathers.
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