STAND OFF, Alta. – Two developmentally challenged teenage boys were orphaned by a Friday-night car crash that killed a veteran of the Lethbridge, Alta., police service, his wife, daughter and three-year-old granddaughter.
Const. Sheldon Twigg, 46, who had recently left walking the beat in favour of a desk job as he neared retirement, was travelling with his family in a grey Ford Taurus when it collided head-on with a black Dodge Ram on an unlit stretch of Highway 509 just north of Stand Off. The Blood Reserve community is about 200 kilometres south of Calgary.
Twigg was the first aboriginal person hired by the Lethbridge Regional Police Service and had served for 18 years. Family members said he was six years away from retiring and had planned to return to school to earn a law degree.
Twigg was married to his high school sweetheart, Kim Twigg, 40. The pair had three children: two developmentally challenged teenage sons who stayed home Friday night, and 21-year-old Lacey Twigg who died in the accident along with her daughter, three-year-old Brielle Twigg.
The driver of the truck was airlifted to Calgary hospital, where he remains in serious condition.
Police said the investigation is continuing and alcohol is not believed to be a factor.
Sheldon’s older brother Clayton Twigg said the family was tight-knit.
Kim and Sheldon met when he was a young bull-rider and she, a barrel-racer.
“Sheldon was shy in those days. He didn’t even know that this girl was chasing him. I finally had to tell him. I said: “˜This girl really likes you.’ He said: “˜Do you think I should ask her out?’ and I said: “˜I don’t think you’ll have to ask.’”
The pair started dating and were married shortly after.
Clayton said they quickly became inseparable.
“It’s fitting that they would go together because they were always together,” he said. “I don’t think either one could have lived without the other one.”
Kim earned a degree in early childhood education and worked at a daycare, Clayton said.
Family members who lived on the Blood Reserve said the couple were close with their daughter and granddaughter. The four frequently spent time together.
On Friday night they were returning home from a dinner with family in a nearby town.
“You never saw them without each other,” said Kris Twigg, Sheldon’s niece.
“He was really fun. You never walked away from him without a smile or without laughing.”
In a reserve bungalow filled with religious glass candles, flowers and statues of Jesus on the cross, Kris said the family was devout and Catholic.
Family had also gathered at a home in Lethbridge to mourn.
Tom McKenzie, the chief of the Lethbridge police, arrived at the home Saturday evening carrying three trays of sandwiches and a large plastic plate of cookies and desserts.
He said the force would work with the Twigg family to prepare a funeral.
Sheldon had recently become the force’s diversity officer.
“We were very proud of Sheldon. He was well liked by everyone in the service and the community,” McKenzie said.
Clayton said Sheldon began his career working for the Blood Tribe police force more than 20 years ago and was soon brought into the Lethbridge force. He was offered a position in Edmonton, but preferred to stay close to family.
“He found his niche in life and he loved being a cop,” Clayton said. “When we were little kids, we always said what we would do when we grew up and we would always change our minds. He always wanted to be a police officer growing up.”
Calgary Herald with files from Stephane Massinon
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