Stuartburn man killed in crash

A community is in mourning after the death of Alex Nesca (19), in a collision on Oct. 24.

RCMP say at 8 p.m. a vehicle with five occupants was struck by a semi at the corner of Provincial Road 200 and Highway 23.

Nesca was one of the passengers in the vehicle.

Police say their vehicle was travelling north on PR 200 when it collided with the semi travelling east on Hwy. 23.

There is a stop sign at that intersection for traffic on PR 200.

The semi jackknifed after the crash and tipped over into the ditch.

The vehicle driver, a 19-year-old man from the RM of Stuartburn was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Passengers also included a 16-year-old female and 17-year-old male from Dominion City and a 16-year-old female from the RM of Franklin. They were taken to hospital with multiple injuries.

Nesca was pronounced dead at the scene.

The truck driver was treated at the scene for minor injuries.

La Verendrye MLA Konrad Narth released a statement he compiled with help from Nesca’s family.

“Today, my heart is broken for my hometown of Vita,” he said.

Narth described the victim as a talented young man who had taken on tremendous responsibility over the past couple of years to help care for his younger siblings.

“His love and dedication to his family spoke volumes about the kind of young man he was,” he wrote. “To know that this tragedy involved Alex, his siblings, and their close friends makes this loss even more heartbreaking for our small community.”

Narth said his heart and prayers go out to Nesca’s family, friends, neighbours and everyone whose lives have been forever changed by this tragedy.

“I continue to pray for the other young people who remain in critical condition, for their strength, healing, and recovery,” he wrote. “In a small community like Vita, these aren’t just names in a news story. They are our friends, our neighbours, and our families. May God bring comfort to those grieving, strength to those fighting for their lives, and peace to a community that is hurting so deeply today.”

RCMP continue to investigate.