Two children, paramedic killed in highway accident

Ambulance was responding to another crash in northern Sask.

SASKATOON Communities and families in northern Saskatchewan are mourning the deaths of three people and praying for the survivors of a devastating two-vehicle collision on Highway 155.

A 14-year-old boy, one-year-old girl and a paramedic died in the collision. Three others were taken to hospital, according to RCMP.

According to RCMP, members of the Beauval detachment responded Friday around 5 p.m. to a serious collision on Highway 155, south of Beauval, between a northbound ambulance carrying two occupants and a southbound truck with four occupants. The 14-year-old boy and one-year-old girl in the southbound truck, as well as a paramedic in the ambulance, were transported from the scene, but later pronounced dead.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority confirmed one of those killed was a Meadow Lake EMS paramedic who was responding to a crash. Kelvington Mobile Health Services said on social media that “we lost one of our own” and that “we mourn the loss of everyone involved.”

Andrew Lariviere was among the four people travelling in the truck. According to a Facebook post by his daughter, Melissa, he has a broken chest bone and bruised lungs and will undergo further testing. Melissa’s nephew, Russell, has a broken wrist suffered in the crash.

A Gofundme page, meanwhile, was started for the family of Jerome, 14, and one-year-old Kinzey, who died in the collision.

“Sitting here thinking about you my handsome little cousin Jerome. God sent you into our lives for a reason. And I’m glad to have been around to watch you grow and was able to tell you so much “I Love You’s”. Lifes not fair,” said Melissa in a Facebook post.

“My sweet sweet angel... Miss. Kinz. My dads spoily. Life is unfair,” Melissa wrote in another Facebook post.

According to the Gofundme page, the communities of Jans Bay, Cole Bay and Beauval “have suffered yet another terrible loss.” The page is raising money to help cover funeral costs and travel costs to be with those still in hospital following the collision.

Beauval is located approximately 150 kilometres north of Meadow Lake.

RCMP said road conditions “were poor with slush- and ice-covered sections at the time of the collision.”

Alcohol is not considered a factor in the collision.

STARS Air Ambulance was dispatched to the scene. Beauval RCMP were assisted by members of the Patuanak and Green Lake detachments, combined traffic services, Meadow Lake traffic services and local medical responders. The area was closed to traffic for several hours.

Conservative Party MP Gary Vidal said in a statement that the province’s “hearts go out to our amazing teams of emergency services people who serve our communities every day.

“In small communities like Meadow Lake these people are often our family, friends and our neighbours as well, so when something like this happens it really hits close to home for so many. We’re going to have a lot of people touched and affected very personally by this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected.” In a statement, the City of Meadow Lake said it wanted “to extend our deepest condolences to those affected by the tragic accident near Beauval yesterday. You are in our hearts today and in the days to come.”

People travelling on Highway 155 were faced with both stopped traffic and daunting weather conditions.

Beauval Mayor Nick Daigneault apparently opened the village’s gas bar late to ensure travellers could make it home.