Family and friends have identified the six young adults killed in a single-vehicle collision in Barrie, north of Toronto.
The crash site was located near McKay Road and Veteran’s Drive, between County Road 27 and Highway 400, according to Barrie police, about 2 a.m. on Sunday. The city acknowledged that the crossroads in issue has been blocked since the spring and that that stretch of road is currently under construction.
As heartbroken locals leave flowers and other trinkets at the accident site, a memorial has begun to take shape.
Four males and two women, who make up the victims, are all in their early 20s, according to Jennett Mays, communications coordinator for Barrie Police Services. They are members of the same group that spent Friday night together at a local casino before becoming unreachable to friends the next day and reported missing.
Although the names of those who died have not been made public by Barrie police, information about their identities is beginning to surface.
According to lacrosse coach and longtime sports announcer Jim Lowe, local player-turned-coach Luke West was among the young people killed.
The 22-year-old, who Lowe had known since he was eight, was remembered as a remarkable individual and great lacrosse player.
By helping at lacrosse clinics and teaching others “how to become better lacrosse players,” he said West gave back to the sport he loved. For example, West was the Barrie Bombers U17-2 team’s assistant coach this summer.
The Barrie Minor Lacrosse Association paid tribute to West on Facebook, recalling him as a favourite in the locker room because of his toughness, persistence, and extraordinary lacrosse IQ.
On social media, Karen Ross, another victim’s best friend, is mourning the loss of Haley Marin. Ross referred to Marin as the only friend she could confide in about everything. “Beautiful spirit, person, and friend,” was how Ross described her.
The father of Curtis King, 22, confirmed he was also killed in this accident.
After putting flowers close to the accident scene, Jason Wright remarked that Curtis “was full of life, and always wanting to help anyone.”
Another victim, the 20-year-old Jersey Mitchell, also died in the accident. Her mother and brother confirmed the death.
Friends also revealed that 22-year-old Jason O’Connor and 23-year-old River Wells were killed in the accident.
Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman has since expressed his sympathy on Twitter.
In a message on Sunday afternoon, he stated, “I’m thinking about the friends and families of these young people and know that there will be many in our community in need of help in the days and weeks ahead.
As a parent, Lehman described the tragedy as his “worst nightmare,” and he urged people to “remember to show the power of Barrie’s compassion at this time and provide respect and space to the families on this dreadful day, and in the days ahead as our town grieves.”
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