The family of a Manitoba mother and daughter who were killed in a crash Friday near Altona is asking for prayers, while RCMP investigate why a tractor-trailer failed to stop before hitting the victims’ SUV.
Relatives identified the victims as Sara Unger, 35, and her eight-year-old daughter Alexa Unger, who lived in the Rural Municipality of Rhineland.
“Peter and Dominic lost their wife/mom,” reads a GoFundMe page set up by a family member. “Let’s pray for Peter and Dominic.”
Sara Unger, 35, and her eight-year-old daughter Alexa Unger, who lived in the Rural Municipality of Rhineland, were killed in a crash Friday near Altona. “Peter and Dominic lost their wife/mom,” reads a GoFundMe page set up by a family member. (GOFUNDME)
RCMP said charges are anticipated in the crash, which happened at the intersection of provincial roads 201 and 306 shortly after 7 p.m. Friday.
RCMP said the tractor-trailer, driven by a 25-year-old man from Brampton, Ont., did not stop at a stop sign while travelling east on PR 201.
PR 201 has rumble strips and yellow signs in both directions to warn approaching drivers to slow down and stop at the intersection.
The semi-truck crashed into the SUV, which was southbound on PR 306 and driven by Sara Unger. Police said she died at the scene about 13 kilometres west of Altona.
Alexa Unger, the lone passenger, died after being airlifted to Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg.
The truck driver was treated in hospital and released.
RCMP spokesman Sgt. Paul Manaigre said the investigation is expected to take some time due to the forensic reconstruction and other work that is required.
“It’s not a quick process,” he said. “These can be quite time-consuming, because you want to get it right the first time.”
Evidence will eventually be submitted to the Crown for an opinion on potential charges.
Manaigre said investigators will look at a range of potential driving-related factors and conduct a mechanical analysis of the truck to determine why the driver did not stop.
They will also download information, such as the truck’s speeds and whether brakes were applied, from the vehicle’s data recorder, he said.
A woman who was travelling behind the Ungers’ SUV told investigators the truck appeared to be travelling at high speed, said Manaigre.
Both provincial roads have speed limits of 100 km/h in the area.
Investigators will attempt to interview the truck driver.
“I think they tried to speak to him at the hospital, but he was just in shock, and really not in a position to say much,” said Manaigre.
Community members began rallying around widower Peter Unger and his young son Dominic over the weekend.
Rhineland Reeve Don Wiebe said the local fire department, which Peter Unger is a member of, has ensured supports are available to the father and son.
“I’m sure there’s a circle (of people) there that have been impacted very dramatically,” said Wiebe.
The collision will be discussed at an upcoming council meeting.
Wiebe said the intersection is “a fairly wide-open space,” and he is not aware of any serious collisions happening there in the past.
chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca
Chris Kitching
Reporter
Chris Kitching is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He began his newspaper career in 2001, with stops in Winnipeg, Toronto and London, England, along the way. After returning to Winnipeg, he joined the Free Press in 2021, and now covers a little bit of everything for the newspaper. Read more about Chris.
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