A memorial for four victims of a head-on collision was held by Edmonton’s Filipino community on Sunday.
RCMP responded to the collision on Highway 21 between Airport Road and Highway 625 around 11 a.m. Saturday, November 22.
Investigators said they believed a Saturn Ion was heading north on Highway 21 when it hit an icy patch and lost control, sliding in to oncoming traffic and hit a semi head-on.
The four people inside the Ion were killed instantly while the driver of the semi-truck was not injured.
According to those in the community the four foreign trade workers had moved to Edmonton to work.
Archie Bermillo and Romel Mose had been working at a Fatburger restaurant in Mill Woods.
Eva Jeanette Caperina was a single mother of two teenagers and had recently lost her husband.
The last victim was Rosalina Tipdas.
“This is a very tragic story for all of us. This event has touched us again,” Esmeralda Agbulos said, referring to a 2012 collision where four other foreign workers were killed in an alleged impaired driving collision.
“In times like this it is really heartening to know that we are not alone. The Filipino community is not alone in dealing with the tragedy.”
She called them all heroes.
“They are the new heroes of today because they are the ones who are doing the sacrifices of coming here and leaving their families, leaving their homeland.”
A trust fund has been set up to help the victims’ families and a donation can be made to the Filipino Accident Victims Trust Fund at any ATB branch in Alberta.
With files from Karyn Mulcahy, Kelsey Nichols
