Saskatoon StarPhoenix

THREE KILLED IN CRASH

Out-of-control truck hits van

- AUSTIN DAVIS

REGINA At only seven years old, Skyrah Tawiyaka was the boss.

It’s easy to tell, even in a photo like the one posted by Alma Rope of her “diva baby,” how she easily made friends. Skyrah’s personalit­y jumps out of the image: a big grin, confident pose and satin pink outfit matching her cat ears.

In another shared by her mother, she sports oversized glasses with bunny ears and holds a bright pink purse. “She was one of those people who you take shopping and she’s throwing extras in the cart,” Rope said Monday.

“We bought some — and then we put some of them back.”

Skyrah was one of three people killed in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 10 between Balgonie and Edgeley on Sunday evening. RCMP and the provincial coroner have not released the names of the deceased, but family has identified the two adults who died on scene as Melvin “Jim” Ryder, 59, and his partner Tristan Blacksioux, 32.

According to police, a pickup truck travelling north on Highway 10 carrying two men lost control and collided with Ryder’s southbound van.

Blacksioux’s 10-year-old daughter Faith was still in surgery Monday, recovering from a broken leg and fractured ribs.

Two of Rope’s other daughters were also in the vehicle and are recovering in hospital. According to Rope, Savannah, 9, required surgery to repair a broken femur and Serenity, 12, suffered a skull fracture.

The group was returning to the city after a weekend trip to visit family at Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation, in the Fort Qu’appelle area. Those trips, hosted by Ryder, were common, Rope said.

“Jim’s been in our lives since Serenity was just a baby,” Rope said of her daughter’s grandfathe­r.

“He was a great guy. He was always so helpful and generous. He was always positive and if you ever, ever needed anything he was always there for you. It didn’t matter what it was.”

Rope first received word of the crash from a friend after 7:30 p.m. Sunday. The family found a babysitter and rushed to the General Hospital in Regina, where the girls were already receiving treatment. It’s where Skyrah succumbed to her injuries that night.

“She was always happy. She was always playful,” her dad Jordan said.

“She always cared. She always hugged, always snuggled, always cuddled. She always made you remember you are loved.”

Throughout the ordeal, the grief of a mother reeling from loss is palpable in her Facebook posts. “This is a nightmare,” she says in one.

There is no guide to telling two girls their baby sister is gone, which is exactly what Rope had to do Monday afternoon.

“I just told them they needed to be prepared and be strong. I had to tell them what happened. My daughter lost her appetite. My other daughter’s missing her already,” Rope said.

“Savannah was her roommate. It’s hard to just go into her room.”

Within 24 hours of the crash, the Ropes were on the receiving end of an outpouring of love and support, including a Gofundme to help the family with food, gas and funeral expenses.

“I didn’t know that was done and I’m very thankful. It’s phenomenal, all the support we’ve been getting,” Rope said when told of the fundraisin­g campaign.

Standing Buffalo has also enlisted the support of a crisis interventi­on stress management team to help support families and affected residents.

“We are working closely with the families to ensure those affected, and the people of our Nation, have support during this most difficult time,” chief and council said in a prepared statement issued Monday.

According to the statement, the team has been with the grieving families since Sunday night and offered support to band members at the bingo hall Monday afternoon, as well as working with the Standing Buffalo School.

Blacksioux and her daughter were members of Piapot First Nation. The chief couldn’t be reached for comment Monday.

The two occupants of the truck suffered what were reported to be minor injuries, according to RCMP.

RCMP officers from White Butte and Fort Qu’appelle detachment­s; Regina, Balgonie, Fort Qu’appelle and Mclean EMS; and the Balgonie Fire Department responded to the scene. Highway 10 was closed for several hours while the collision reconstruc­tionist assisted with the investigat­ion.

The road conditions had been rapidly deteriorat­ing in the area after a recent rainfall and dropping temperatur­es, but an RCMP spokesman said that although road conditions were definitely icy at the time, the cause of the crash won’t be known until the investigat­ion is concluded.

Edgeley is about 50 kilometres northeast of Regina.

 ??  ??
 ??  ?? Skyrah Tawiyaka, 7, was one of the victims in the two-vehicle crash.
Skyrah Tawiyaka, 7, was one of the victims in the two-vehicle crash.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Canada