Three children are dead after they were struck by a suspected drunk driver Saturday night near Nelson House.
RCMP said one 13-year-old boy and two 11-year-old boys were pronounced dead on scene. All of them were from Nelson House.
Two of the boys were walking and one was riding a bike at the time of the crash.
Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation Chief Marcel Moody said the community is devastated.
“People are still in shock and obviously there’s a lot of grief in the community right now,” he said.
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“It’s so devastating for children’s lives to be taken away at a young age like that.”
Moody said there will be counselling support in the school on Monday and a vigil planned for later in the day. He said there will be a Go Fund Me page created for people who want to support the family.
“It’s had a huge impact in our community,” Moody said.
Police said the driver of the vehicle is a 27-year-old man from Nelson House, that alcohol is a factor in the crash and the driver is facing multiple charges. Officials also said he exited his vehicle and fled the scene on foot before later turning himself into police custody.
Police said the crash happened around 10:35 p.m. on Provincial Road 620.
RCMP Sgt. Paul Manaigre said the community is in shock.
“Probably many are angry and we understand,” he said. “It’s a situation that didn’t need to happen.”
“The community now has a grieving process that’s going to start,” Manaigre said. “I can’t imagine, three young lives just taken like that.”
Nelson House is 850 km north of Winnipeg, near Thompson.
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