A First Nations community west of Toronto is in a state of shock after two youths returning home from a group outing were killed in a head-on crash in Caledonia, Ont., Wednesday evening.
“We are so closely knit and all of our members are suffering,” R. Stacey Laforme, chief of Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation, told reporters during a press conference on Wednesday.
The crash occurred on Highway 6 between Fourth and Fifth Lines just after 9 p.m.
Ontario Provincial Police said a van carrying seven youths of various ages driven by a 27-year-old man from the Mississauga of The New Credit First Nation was travelling southbound on Highway 6 when it was struck by a northbound vehicle driven by 21-year-old Wyatt Martin from the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nations Territories.
“The northbound motor vehicle crossed the centre line and struck the passenger van head on,” OPP Const. Ed Sanchuk said. “I can tell you the van left the roadway and rolled.”
Police said 12-year-old Grace King and a 14-year-old Waagosh Secord from the southbound van were pronounced dead at the scene. Martin suffered life-threatening injuries and also died.
“They were traveling together from laser tag in Hamilton when the collision occurred,” said Chief Laforme. “This was a community organization. There are youth groups that get together and going on outings.”
Sanchuk said six patients, including five youths and the adult driver, were taken to hospital with serious injuries. Police continue to investigate the cause of the collision.
“This is a very traumatic collision that took place,” Sanchuk said. “It’s difficult to tell loved ones that their family members are deceased. Especially when you have a 12 and 14-year-old female.”
Chief Laforme said the school the children attended has been closed for the day and counselling services are being made available to community members.
“We have opened up the community centre for everybody in our membership, even our neighbours if they want to come over and talk and seek some counselling,” he said.
Laforme said he has not yet spoken to the family members of those involved in the crash.
“The close-knitness [sic] of the community and the nation is something we are very proud of and something we strive to maintain,” he said.
“People always think of your children, my children, her children and his children. But they are all our children.”
An Ornge air ambulance was called to respond to the crash at around 9:40 p.m. A helicopter was dispatched to a hospital in Hagersville, Ont., southwest of the collision scene, but a spokesman told Global News that the crew was later called off without transporting any patients.
Highway 6 was closed between Fourth Line and Fifth Line for the investigation but reopened at 5 a.m.
With files from Jeremy Cohn
Comments