The seven-year-old girl killed in a multi-vehicle collision northeast of Balgonie, Sask., on Sunday night has been identified by a family member.
Cousin Barry Medicine Rope confirmed the victim as Skyrah Tawiyaka , daughter of Alma Rope and Jordan Rope.
“This is a disaster,” said Medicine Rope in an interview from the hospital Monday morning.
Saskatchewan RCMP said a truck travelling north on Highway 10 lost control and collided with a southbound vehicle carrying six passengers at about 7:40 p.m.
The driver of the southbound vehicle, a 59-year-old man, and a 32-year-old woman passenger were also killed.
Three more girls were in the vehicle at the time of the crash. Two were Skyrah’s sisters Savannah, 9, and Serenity, 12.
Medicine Rope said Serenity has a head injury. Savannah broke her right femur. A friend of the girls’ was also injured during the collision.
Medicine Rope described Skyrah as someone who liked to “go by what the day gave her” and said she got along very well with her sisters.
She will be remembered as a girly girl who loved to dress up and the colour pink.
“She’s not shy,” he said. “She always liked to dance… She loved karaoke.”
The family is from the Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation. The chief and council released a statement on Monday, showing their support to the family and those in the community.
“We would like to express our deepest sympathies for the families affected by the incident last night, as well as families on both Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation and Piapot First Nation,” the statement read.
“We are working closely with the families to ensure those affected, and the people of our Nation, have support during this most difficult time.”
Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation has enlisted the support of the Crisis Intervention Stress Management (CSIM) team from the File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council.
They have been with the families since Sunday night.
Recent rainfall and dropping temperatures are expected to have played a role in the collision, police say.
The highway was closed was several hours following the collision while an investigation.
A GoFundMe page has been created for the family to help cover any costs associated with the collision.
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