A Vancouver Island First Nations community near Gold River pulled together in grief Saturday after four people travelling in one car were killed.
RCMP said the crash happened Friday at 5:30 p.m. on Highway 28, about 25 kilometres east of Gold River. The car hit ice, crossed the centre line, collided with an oncoming vehicle and fell down a slope.
All four people who died are from the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation, about two kilometres west of Gold River.
Patrick James, a chief of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht, identified the four as Jamie Jack, 42, Jennifer Andrew, 48, Greg Mark, 37, and Josephine Campbell, 40.
“The whole community is quite devastated,” said James. “It’s quite the shock for a small community, four people at once.”
He said he was first cousin to Jack and grew up with Mark so the accident has hit him personally very hard.
Many people knew them, he said. “The four of them have touched the hearts of a lot of people.”
He said the community had a supper on Saturday for relatives and has pledged support. Other family members are on their way from across Vancouver Island.
James said the four were on their way to go grocery shopping, probably in Campbell River, a trip more people are making since November when the only grocery store in Gold River shut down.
Brad Unger, Gold River mayor, said the two communities are basically one town and everyone is grieving. “It’s one community,” said Unger. “We will be there to support them in any way we can.”
RCMP said the four who died were not wearing seatbelts. The driver of the other vehicle was taken to Campbell River Hospital and, according to Unger, has been released.
