Crash victim funeral Monday
Family of woman killed in road rage incident pleads with driver to turn themselves in
A Niagara Falls woman who police say was the innocent victim of a road rage incident will be laid to rest Monday.
Nicole ( Nikki) Turcotte died Jan. 28 following a multi- vehicle chain reaction crash on the Queen Elizabeth Way in Mississauga. She was 22.
A GoFundMe page - https://www.gofundme.com/39s33nicoles- funeral - launched by Turcotte’s cousin Brandy Sommer Wood to assist the family with funeral expenses has raised almost $ 11,000.
“I am amazed by how many people wanted to help,” Sommer Wood said.
“The sad thing is that tragedy brings people together.”
Turcotte, a graduate of Stamford Collegiate, was a photography student at Humber College.
The Ontario Provincial Police are still searching for the vehicle believed to have caused the pile up and are appealing to driver to come forward.
Sommer Wood has a simple message to the mystery motorist.
“Turn yourself in and deal with the repercussions of what happened,” she said.
“Whether it was a momentary lapse of judgment or a burst of anger, the most important thing for you to do is turn yourself in. It is unfair to the family and to all of those who are suffering from this. You don’t realize how many people you have affected negatively from your actions.”
Police say a Honda Civic was traveling in the middle lane of traffic when it suddenly moved into the left lane and quickly slowed down in what police referred to as a “brake check.”
The driver behind the lead vehicle slowed to avoid a collision with the lead vehicle, which triggered a chain reaction crash. The driver did not stop and was last seen exiting the highway.
A 19- year- old Niagara Falls woman, who was a passenger in the same car as Turcotte, remains in a Toronto hospital. Five other people sustained minor injuries.
The suspect vehicle is a silver or beige 2010 or newer Honda Civic. The licence plate is believed to include the letters C, E, A and T.
Police would also like to speak to the driver of a transport truck which was driving in the middle or right lane at the time of the crash.
Meanwhile, Humber College plans to honour their student in the near future with an exhibition of her work.
“She loved being in the studio,” said David Scott, co- ordinator of the Toronto college’s photography program.
“She was very creative soul.” Police are asking anyone with information to call 1- 905- 2786131 or Crime Stoppers at 1- 800222- 8477.
“We are still appealing for witnesses, and for that driver to come in,” said OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt. “The driver has to do the right thing. This is something that is totally unacceptable, for someone not to stop.”
Visitation for Turcotte will be held at the Morse and Son Funeral Home on Saturday and Sunday from 2 p. m. - 4 p. m,. and from 7 p. m. - 9 p. m. A service will be held Monday at 11 a. m. at Southminster United Church on Hagar Avenue, followed by burial at Fairview Cemetery.