Edmonton community mourns 3 mothers killed in crash by stolen truck - Action News
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Edmonton

Edmonton community mourns 3 mothers killed in crash by stolen truck

The Liberian community in Edmonton is mourning three women killed in a car crash near Lloydminster, Sask., on Friday.

'It bleeds my heart to even think about all these children having to go through life without their mothers'

Eva Fatu Tumbay (left), Glorious Blamo (centre) and Jeanette Wright (right) died in the fatal collision on Sept. 22. (John Gaye)

Family and friends stood sobbing outside a home in southeast Edmonton Saturday, grieving three mothers killedin a car crash.

The women died Friday morning after a driver in a stolen truck smashed into their minivannearLloydminster, Sask.

Glorious Blamo, 35, and Eva Fatu Tumbay,37, died at the scene. Each woman has four young children in Edmonton.

Janet Wright Gaye remains in critical condition at a hospital in Edmonton, her father said Saturday. (Facebook)

JeanetteWright, 53, died later from her injuries. Her niece, 32-year-old Janet Wright Gaye, was airlifted to hospital in Edmonton.

Gaye's father, Kanton Wright, said she remains in critical condition.

"This whole thing is so devastating, it's so heartbreaking and we just pray that the Lord will give us strength to go through it," Wright said.

"It bleeds my heart to even thinkabout all these children having to go through life without their mothers."

His youngersister, Jeanette Wright, hadthree children. She was also a mother-like figure to theLiberian community in Edmonton,Wright said.

"I haven't processed how life will be without her," hesaid."We will stand strong and be there for her children, we will do everything to support them, to give them comfort and whatever else that they may need."

Kanton Wright named his daughter Janet Wright, who is in critical condition, after his younger sister Jeanette Wright, who died in the crash. (Scott Neufeld/CBC)

All four women attended the Solid Rock International MinistriesofEdmonton, whichBlamohelped found with her husband.

Carslined the street outside her home Saturday, as more than 100 people gathered to comfort each other.

"It is hard for all of us," said Rev. Thomas W. Wilson,an associate minister at the church.

"It's just so difficult to distinguish the community from the family and the family from the church, we all are one."

'We stand by each other'

The women were driving to Minnesota early Friday to visit family when a stolen truck collided with theirminivan.

RCMPsaid a police chase of the stolen vehicle had been called off earlier due to public safetyconcerns.

A mass will be held for the women Sunday. Their bodies remain in Saskatchewan as RCMP continue to investigate.

"We are hoping that they can speed up the process so they can release the bodies as soon as possible for the families,"said ThomasBumbeh, president of the Liberia Friendship Society.

While the families wait, he said the community will pull together in support.

"If something happens to one person, it happens to the whole community," Bumbeh said. "We rallytogether, we stand by each other in a situation like this and there has been overwhelming support."