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TUESDAY APRIL 24, 2012
Proudly serving Williams Lake and the Cariboo-Chilcotin since 1930
VOL. 82. No. 33
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Train and vehicle collide An SUV and a train collided Saturday morning at the CN tracks on Frizzi Road. On April 21 at 5:26 a.m. Williams Lake RCMP members attended a collision between a CN train and a Ford Explorer at the intersection of Frizzi Road and the CN tracks in Williams Lake. “It was reported that the vehicle ran out of gas and stopped on the rail crossing. The Locomotive Engineer saw the vehicle on the tracks and attempted to stop,” says Sgt. Richard LeBeuf, RCMP media communications in Williams Lake. The train hit the vehicle while traveling 0.5 kilometres per hour. No injuries were sustained as a result of the collision, and minor damage occurred to the vehicle. Monica Lamb-Yorski photo
Inside the Tribune NEWS A2 Firefighters attend Sugar Cane. SPORTS A8 Action packs Indoor Rodeo. COMMUNITY Cute calves visit seniors.
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Weather outlook: Mix of sun/ cloud today, high of 14 C. Cloudy Wednesday, high of 17 C.
Locals gather to share their grief and love for Rayel MacDonald, 20, who died early Sunday after being struck by a truck on Carson Drive in Williams Lake. A tribute site has been erected near the scene.
Community mourns loss of a loved one Second victim airlifted to Vancouver General Hospital with life-threatening injuries after Sunday tragedy Monica Lamb-Yorski Tribune Staff Writer Flowers, cards, candles, shells, feathers, stuffed animals, and tributes now grace the sign post closest to the scene of where 20-year-old Rayel MacDonald died early Sunday morning. At noon on Monday, around 200 people, including students, family, teachers, friends and people from the community gathered at the site for a short memorial service. MacDonald and another young woman, also 20, were struck by a truck on Carson Drive in Williams Lake at approximately 2:15 a.m. Sunday. Williams Lake RCMP say they received a call that two pedestrians had been struck by an older model smaller pickup truck that fled the scene. The truck, while travelling down the hill, hit the pedestrians close to the bottom of the hill, near the Williams Lake Secondary School field. The RCMP say there were 25 to 30 witnesses at the time of the incident.
Tribune file photo
Rayel MacDonald was tragically killed early Sunday morning after a vehicle struck her and a friend while they were crossing Carson Drive. Her friend, whose name hasn’t been released yet, was airlifted to Vancouver General Hospital with lifethreatening injuries. When BC ambulance attended the scene, MacDonald was pronounced dead. The other woman, whose name has not been released yet, was airlifted to Vancouver General Hospital with life-threatening injuries. “I can tell you she has severe chest trauma, pelvic trauma, and actually has a broken femur,” says Corp. Madonna Saunderson, media liaison for RCMP Prince George Regional Provincial Traffic Services.
A family member says she is now in stable condition. Soon after the incident, the truck was located by Williams Lake RCMP members. Martin William Michael Gentles, 27, was charged with impaired driving causing death and impaired driving causing bodily harm. MacDonald graduated from Williams Lake Secondary School in 2010, and had just completed two years in the nursing program at Thompson Rivers
University in Williams Lake. At the memorial site, one note says: “Heh girl, I guess Heaven needs nurses too ... . We will miss you.” As they held a rugby ball, which was quickly gathering signatures and notes, a group of female rugby players spoke of their love for their lost friend and fellow rugby player. Through their tears, the players talked about their gratitude to a young woman who made them laugh, supported them, made them feel confident and who they were grateful to know. “She’ll be on the pitch with us in the future,” one player said. Another said MacDonald loved them all “too much.” A young man said he would give anything to hear her laugh again. Another said although she was tragically taken she will always live in people’s hearts. WLSS counsellor Mike Levitt said words don’t seem to fit when a young person passes. See GENTLES Page A2