Tom Borsa, whose 18-year-old daughter was among four people killed in a highway collision Sunday night, says “It’s been an absolute nightmare.”
Maya was in a vehicle that was struck by a van on Highway 8 near Winnipeg Beach, about 60 kilometres north of Winnipeg. Two other 18-year-olds and a 17-year-old who were in the same vehicle as Maya also died in the crash.
Borsa says Maya went to get ice cream with her friends and that they were on their way to drop her off at home. Borsa and his daughter are from Sandy Hook, just north of where the crash happened.
“This is a senseless tragedy,” he said.
“We had four beautiful [teenagers], two boys and two girls, that would have went on to great things in life, and it’s just a very, very sad situation.”
All four people killed wanted to get an education and pursue meaningful careers, Borsa says.
RCMP said in a news release Monday that the vehicle they were in was crossing the highway while travelling westbound on Provincial Road 229 and that a southbound van collided with the car.
Seventeen people have died as a result of collisions on Highway 8 over the past five years, data provided by RCMP shows.
That includes two women, aged 20 and 26, who died in January just south of where the collision occurred Sunday, and an 86-year-old man who died driving across the same intersection this July.
“It’s very difficult for me to talk about this right now because I’m basically dying inside, but something needs to change. We can’t have young kids senselessly dying on this highway,” Borsa said.
“Had we had lights here, this wouldn’t have happened, or a four-way stop, anything at all.”
Manitoba father mourns daughter, 18, killed in Highway 8 crash
Winnipeg Beach Mayor Terry Calof says he suggested in a phone call with Manitoba’s transportation minister, Lisa Naylor, on Tuesday that a 24/7 flashing red light be installed at the intersection.
“This tragedy happened at night. It was 9:15 p.m. on Sunday. We were in the midst of a thunderstorm, and visibility was probably reduced in the heavy rain — and those flashing red lights would make a huge difference,” he said.
“We have a lot of fog, seasonal fog, out here because of the lake, and that would make a big difference.”
Calof says he also told Naylor the rumble strips along the highway in the area have been “worn out almost to nothing.”
The town council is planning to acknowledge the crash by holding a minute of silence at Wednesday night’s council meeting.
Haylee MacKay spoke to CBC News on behalf of the family of Chloe Vermette, one of the other people killed in Sunday’s crash. MacKay agrees with Calof that something needs to be done to reduce the number of collisions at the location.
“They need to change that highway. They need to put lights, they need to put something. There’s … been way too many accidents on that highway, and they got to do something about it quick — otherwise, there’ll be more lives lost,” she said.
MacKay knew Chloe since she was very little. She says her friend will be remembered for her “outgoing personality” and ambition.
“No parents should have to put their baby in the ground,” she said.
4 teens killed in crash near Winnipeg Beach Sunday evening
In a statement to CBC, Naylor says that while RCMP are currently investigating the crash, the province will be conducting a review of the intersection, with the priority being to keep the roadways as safe as possible.
“Ever since the summer started, I always told the kids to stay off Highway 8 because Highway 8 is a death trap in Manitoba,” Borsa said.
Maya, who was Métis, was going to be a veterinarian, which made sense to her family, her father said.
“She had chickens on her farm from the time that she was four years old. She would name all her chickens, she’d bring them in the house. She just loved animals,” Borsa said.
“She had three dogs at home — Samson, Lilah and Harley. She had her beautiful cat, Cleo. All the animals would always sleep in her room.”
2 women dead after head-on Highway 8 crash on Tuesday afternoon
Borsa says his daughter was a “beautiful soul” and would always help people, had many friends and was loved by people in nearby communities.
He says the pain of losing her is “devastating,” but her memory will always be kept close to their hearts.
“You just couldn’t get enough of her…. Now I don’t have her anymore, but I have her in spirit.”
