(Chapais) The pastor of a church in the Cree community of Waswanipi and other people on their way to medical appointments Thursday are among the five victims of the violent head-on collision that occurred in Chapais, in the Nord-du- Quebec.
Four residents of Waswanipi were killed in this tragedy which “devastated” the small community located approximately 140 km west of Chibougamau, said deputy chief Rhonda Oblin Cooper in a telephone interview Friday.
The four Waswanipi victims were in a van which collided with a van around 1:15 p.m. Thursday, at the Chapais exit of Route 113, said the Sûreté du Québec (SQ). The driver of the van also lost his life in the collision.
The SQ is still investigating the circumstances of the accident, but indicates that according to preliminary information, the van deviated from its lane and collided head-on with the van, which then caught fire.
Deputy Chief Oblin Cooper said Friday the van belonged to the regional health department and was taking patients to their medical appointments at the time of the collision.
The office of Cree community leader Irene Neeposh identified the victims as Abraham Ottereyes, the driver of the van, patients Allan Etapp and Charlie Gull, and his wife Cecile Gull.
Mr. Ottereyes was a veteran driver for the regional health department and Mr. Etapp was a pastor at a local church, Mr.me Oblin Cooper.
“It impacts the entire community,” she said. We are such a small community that when we lose four members […] in this way, in such a tragic way, it really puts a strain on the community. »
The community of Waswanipi began four days of mourning on Friday, which will include community events to meditate on the lives of the victims, specifies Mme Oblin Cooper.