A crowdfunding page has been set up for the families of two young cousins who were killed in a tragic car accident last Friday on Lougheed Highway in Coquitlam that also claimed the life of a 30-year-old woman.
The YouCaring page was set up in memory of Ella Reese Hernandez, who was nine years old and a Coquitlam resident, and Tyler Mollie Wong Hernandez, who was three, of New Westminster.
(Neither Coquitlam RCMP nor the BC Coroners Service has officially released the names.)
"Any and all funds donated to the Hernandez family will be used to honour these two angels and assist their families in caring for one another," a statement on the page reads. "It is hoped that enough money can be raised to help the parents of these little children cover a portion of their funeral expenses and contribute to the wellbeing of the surviving members left in the wake of Friday’s tragic collision."
Carol Todd, a School District 43 learning services teacher who knows the families because two of the parents are teachers, said the funding page is a way for people to reach out to show the Coquitlam families they care.
"You shouldn't have to worry about all the expenses after you have lost your child. A group of friends thought of a funding page and decided on YouCaring as way for people who wanted to do something more for the family. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the YouCaring fund that will be used by both families in this time of sadness, Todd said.
Meanwhile, the older girl's school community is in mourning and School District 43 is reaching out to that school to help students cope. Efforts have been made to provide supports to the school the older girl attended, The Tri-City News has confirmed.
In fact, the district's Critical Response Team was alerted after the accident and began providing support and counselling services immediately and throughout the weekend.
"We can confirm that it was a student from our school district but to respect the family’s privacy, we are not releasing the name of the school or the student externally at this time. We are communicating with affected students, staff and parents," SD43 spokesperson Peter Chevrier stated in an email.
The accident is under investigation by both the BC Coroners Service and the local Mounties.
According to police, three vehicles were involved in the accident north of Pitt River Road just before 6:20 p.m. April 28, with eight occupants in all. The woman who was killed was in one vehicle, the two girls in another.
"The Coordinated Collision Investigation Team, along with ICARS [Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service], is still investigating," stated a release from the Mounties. "Impairment has been determined not to to be a factor in this collision."
Anyone who witnessed the collision — or has dash-cam video that recorded the accident or the accident scene — is asked to contact Coquitlam RCMP Traffic Services immediately by calling 604-945-1550 and quoting file number 2017-12620.
Anyone who wants to provide information anonymously can do so through Crime Stoppers: by phone, 1-800-222-8477; online, at solvecrime.ca; by SMS, texting BCTIP and your message to CRIMES (274637); or via Facebook (metrovancouvercrimestoppers); you may also download the Crime Stoppers mobile app for iPhone.
