Fundraiser begins for widow after death of husband, two sons in crash

A fundraising campaign has been created to help a widow whose husband and two sons were killed in a crash in B.C. on Sunday.

Mike Cochlin and sons Liam and Quinn were travelling on Highway 5A, about 30 kilometres south of Kamloops, when their vehicle left the road and plunged down an embankment.

Emergency crews were called to northbound Highway 5A near Stump Lake at about 5:45 p.m., where they found the Okotoks family’s vehicle heavily damaged down a steep embankment.

Mike, 47, was pronounced dead at the scene, while Liam, 8, and Quinn, 5, were taken to Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, where both later died, according to a family friend.

The fundraiser on Gofundme was created Tuesday night and had raised more than $36,000 toward a $100,000 goal as of Wednesday. The post identifies Erin Cochlin as Mike’s widow and the mother of Liam and Quinn.

“Mike was a loving father. He was on a special boys’ road trip with Quinn and Liam and was on his way home,” said family friend Amy Davies. “Quinn will be donating his heart, liver and both kidneys tonight. He is a hero.”

Davies said a service to celebrate their lives will be scheduled soon.

Snow was falling in the Kamloops area Sunday night, but it’s not known if weather played a role in the crash. Nevertheless, RCMP Cpl. Jodi Shelkie said the incident should serve as a reminder to drive safely.

“The RCMP would like to remind motorists to always drive defensively and cautiously,” she said.

The investigation is continuing. — With files from Kamloops This Week