Shaunavon crash victims were ‘special folks’: friend

REGINA Two Shaunavon women are being remembered as kind, dedicated mothers who were deeply involved in their community and their churches.

“Special folks,” said family friend and fellow church-goer David Weiseth. “They both have a lot of friends .... They have a lot of people that will be grieving.”

Lorretta Hughes and her daughter-in-law Melanie Hughes died after their vehicle was hit in a head-on collision near Tompkins on Monday night.

A baby boy from the same family as the two women was transported by ambulance to a Swift Current hospital. Police said his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Weiseth, who was a member of Shaunavon Alliance Church where Melanie attended, said he knew both women well, having lived in the community for over 60 years before retiring and moving to Saskatoon in August. “It’s been a tough morning as we heard the news,” he said.

Weiseth described Melanie as a special woman and a “tremendous mom” who was quiet and wise. “When she spoke people listened,” he said, adding that she was always available to her community when they needed her, much like her mother-in-law, whom he described as a caring person and dedicated volunteer.

“I lost a brother in a car accident a long time ago, and it’s something that you never get over,” he recalled. “Losing two family members at the same time, I just can’t imagine.”

Shaunavon’s mayor, Grant Greenslade, said the tight-knit town is devastated by the loss. “Whenever there’s a tragedy of any sort it’s tough. But especially when it’s two people who were so active in the community and so young and (with) so much promise, it just makes it that much more difficult.”

He said both Melanie and Lorretta volunteered at the Valley View Bible Camp every summer, and Lorretta — who attended the Lutheran church in town — volunteered at the food bank and other community programs and events.

“They’re going to be missed,” said Greenslade. “They were a really important part of this community.”

Alcohol is believed to have been a factor in the crash, which happened on the Trans-canada Highway five kilometres east of Tompkins.

According to a news release from Swift Current RCMP, a 66-year-old man from Gull Lake was also killed.

Just prior to the crash at 8:10 p.m., Swift Current RCMP were alerted to a vehicle travelling at a high rate of speed in the wrong direction on the highway near Tompkins.

Police said the vehicle was travelling westbound in the eastbound lanes. Police were en route when another call came in reporting a head-on crash.

When police arrived on scene, they found two vehicles in the eastbound driving lanes of the highway, and witnesses were attempting to help the victims of the crash.

The Gull Lake man was the lone occupant of the vehicle travelling westbound in the wrong lane. He was declared dead at the scene.

The other vehicle was carrying Melanie and Lorretta — who were both declared dead at the scene — and the baby, who was in the back seat and was removed by witnesses and transported to hospital.

“They were very kind,” said Audrey Turnball, a cousin of Lorretta’s who owns and operates Audrey ’s Flower Oasis in Shaunavon.

She said the community is sad, shocked and horrified by the loss. “It’s a small town. We’re all close.”

The accident scene was closed for several hours while two RCMP traffic reconstructionists examined it. It was reopened early Tuesday morning.

The investigation is ongoing, with assistance from the Saskatchewan Coroners Service.

Tompkins is located approximately 80 kilometres west of Swift Current.