Two victims in fatal crash near Kamloops identified, fundraiser established for family
Credit to Author: Cayley Dobie| Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2020 21:27:16 +0000
KAMLOOPS — The victims of a single-vehicle crash south of Kamloops on Sunday — in which a father and son were killed and another young boy left in hospital in grave condition — have been identified through an online fundraising site.
Mike Cochlin and sons Liam and Quinn were travelling north on Highway 5A near Stump Lake when their vehicle left the road and plunged down an embankment.
Emergency crews were called to a stretch of the highway 30 kilometres south of Kamloops at about 5:45 p.m., where they found the Alberta family’s vehicle heavily damaged down a steep embankment.
Mike, 47, was pronounced dead at the scene, while Liam, 8, and Quinn, 5, were taken to Royal Inland Hospital, where Liam later died. Quinn remains in critical condition at B.C. Children’s Hospital in Vancouver.
The fundraiser on GoFundMe was created Tuesday night and had raised more than $28,000 toward a $100,000 goal as of Wednesday. The post identifies Erin Cochlin as Mike’s widow and the mother of Liam and Quinn.
Police issued a news release Monday morning stating that each of the three occupants of the vehicle had died, then sent out a correction Tuesday, saying one of the boys was alive but in grave condition in a Vancouver hospital.
RCMP Cpl. Jodi Shelkie said she wouldn’t be providing any further updates on the child’s status.
Snow was falling in the Kamloops area Sunday night, but it’s not known whether weather played a role in the crash. Nevertheless, Shelkie said the incident should serve as a reminder to drive safely.
“The RCMP would like to remind motorists to always drive defensively and cautiously,” she said.
The investigation is continuing.
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