Students, staff in Walkerton return to school after fatal crash
Young people embrace near a memorial at Walkerton District Community School in Walkerton, Ont. on May 25, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Geoff Robins
WALKERTON — As a small Ontario town continues to grapple with the sudden deaths of four teenage girls and their teacher, students and staff went back to school on Monday morning to find mental health resources on offer.
Bluewater District School Board spokesperson Jamie Pettit said mental health and tragedy response teams were ready as students and staff returned to Walkerton District Community School after an accident he described as a 'horrible tragedy.'
Matt Eckert, 33, and four teenage girls were killed in a crash when their SUV collided with a transport truck and another SUV just northeast of London, Ont. on Friday, while they were returning from a sporting event.
Walkerton victims identified
Victims of crash near London, Ont. identified.
And Walkerton, Ont., a small town of around 4,500 people, has been in mourning ever since.
More than a thousand people, some of whom travelled from neighboring towns, gathered outside the girls' school Sunday evening to show support.
Students and residents lined up, holding lit candles and placing them on the ground outside the school entrance by a pile of colourful flowers and a brown teddy bear.
'Hits close to home'
Andrew Boutilier said he came to the vigil, where mourners shared prayers, tears and hugs, to be there for the families and friends of the victims.
'It kind of hits close to home, especially when you have a teenager living at home,' he said, adding his 17-year-old son goes to the same school.
Not only that, but Boutilier is a tow-truck driver who routinely responds to collision sites.
As a father, he said, it was difficult 'knowing that, you know, it could have been your kid that was in that vehicle.'
He said his teen spent the day with friends to cope with the tragedy in his own way.
'But you know, it's gonna be a day by day kind of thing, and you just try to be there for him as best as you can to help him get through it.'
Ontario Provincial Police and the school board did not publicly release the names of the students, but police said two girls were 16 and two were 17 years old.
Tara Twins Minor Softball identified two of the victims as Rowan McLeod and Kaydance Ford, saying both were members of the team.
'Our entire Twins family is reeling from this loss, and our hearts go out to the families, friends and teammates of these beautiful athletes,' the team said in a statement posted on Facebook.
'This tragedy hits harder for this association knowing that they were returning from playing the very sport of softball.'
Bluewater Ballistix Volleyball Club identified Danica Baker as another of the victims.
The team said in a social media post that they were grieving the tragic loss of someone described by those who knew her as 'a true ray of light,' and someone whose spirit 'lit up every room and every volleyball court she stepped onto.'
Eckert was also an assistant coach with the Owen Sound NorthStars Junior B Lacrosse club.
Pettit, the school board's spokesperson, said the staff gathered ahead of students' return to school, where he said there would be a 'lot of heavy lifting' required to help students through the initial stages of shock and grief.
'When you have five individuals in one event with a significant loss of life, it certainly does resonate and send a ripple throughout the community. I think the impact is going to be felt for a long time,' Pettit said.
The mayor of Brockton, the municipality that includes Walkerton, was among the crowd of mourners at Sunday evening's vigil.
Chris Peabody described the tragedy as an 'indescribable grief.'
'It's an absolute cloud and pall across the town, and it's, it's going to take a long while to even get on the road to recovery. It is so devastating,' he said in an interview.
He said he had mixed emotions seeing the crowd of mourners.
'It made me feel proud that so many people would come out to support, but very upsetting.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
35-year-old man killed in Calgary motorcycle crash on Stoney Trail
A 35-year-old man was killed in a motorcycle crash on Stoney Trail. A 35-year-old man was killed in a motorcycle crash on Stoney Trail. Calgary police say neither speed nor impairment are believed to be factors in a deadly motorcycle crash on Thursday. Emergency crews responded to the eastbound lanes of Stoney Trail near Sarcee Trail N.W. just before 6 p.m. for a two-vehicle crash. Police say both vehicles involved – a GMC Sierra pickup truck with a utility trailer and a red Ducati 959 Panigale motorcycle – were eastbound at the time. Investigators believe the pickup truck was in the middle lane, but hit the motorcycle as it began braking and moving into the eft lane. The motorcycle and rider were knocked down, coming to a rest near the guardrails in the centre median. The motorcyclist, a 35-year-old man, suffered serious, life-threatening injuries. He was taken to hospital where he later died. The driver of the pickup truck wasn't injured. Anyone who witnessed the crash or who has dash-cam footage is asked to call police at 403-266-1234. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Man dies in hospital after shooting at automotive complex in Brampton
Peel police give an update on the investigation into the fatal shooting of a man in Brampton on Friday evening. A man in his 30s is dead after a shooting at an automotive complex in Brampton Friday afternoon. Peel police and paramedics were called to 181 Rutherford Road South, east of Kennedy Road, just before 5:45 p.m. for reports of shots fired. Brampton shooting Police and paramedics are on the scene of a shooting in Brampton on Friday, June 20, 2025. (CTV News Toronto) When they arrived, officers found a victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. 'He was transported to a trauma center where he underwent emergency surgery but sadly was pronounced deceased,' Peel police media relations officer Const. Tyler Bell told reporters at the scene. Bell said the victim was associated with the business and was either an owner or an employee. Shooting appears to be targeted The homicide bureau has taken over the investigation. Bell said it appears it was a 'targeted style' shooting. 'Whether or not this individual was the intended target, that's always part of the ongoing investigation,' he said. 'Most shootings that happen are targeted in nature. It's not too often that we see random-style shootings here in the GTA, fortunately.' Brampton shooting A police tape block a garage following a shooting in Brampton on Friday, June 20, 2025. (CTV News) Bell said the victim was inside the establishment when he was shot. 'Whether or not the shooter was on foot or shooting from the vehicle … it's too early to tell at the moment,' he said. Bell added that there was no further risk to public safety. He noted that the area was busy at the time of the shooting, and 'miraculously, no one else was struck by gunfire.' 'Anytime we see a shooting, it's tragic. We see this at a place of business where multiple people come and go regularly,' he said. 'At any given time, we've seen tragic circumstances where people are caught in the crossfire of these acts, so it's obviously concerning. People were coming and going. It could have been anybody.' Too early to tell if it's linked to tow truck violence Police do not have information about the suspect or suspects. They likely fled in a vehicle, given that it happened in an industrial area, said Bell. Brampton shooting Police tape surround shops at an automotive complex in Brampton following a shooting on Friday, June 20, 2025. (CTV News Toronto) When asked if the shooting could be connected to the ongoing violence in the tow truck industry, the constable said it's too early in the investigstion but it would be something that investigators could pursue 'I understand that's top of mind, especially with the most recent press conference that we've put out. It is certainly going to be something that investigators are going to pursue,' Bell said, referring to this week's police announcement about the dismantling of a violent criminal organization. 'Whether or not it's related at this point, it's certainly possible, something that we'll be looking into for sure.' Bell urged anyone with information, especially those who were in the area at the time of the shooting, to contact homicide investigators or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
VPD pushes back against arrest quota allegations
Vancouver Watch Vancouver police are on the defense, responding to an anonymous complaint alleging the force adheres to arrest quotas on the Downtown Eastside.
