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The area of the crash site is a construction project and the intersection has been closed since the spring
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August 29, 2022 • 1 hour ago • 2 minutes read • 19 comments Kailey Graham (in white) and friend Kayleigh Bryant-Nordeen laid flowers for six young adults who died over the weekend in the Barrie area. It is believed they were traveling on McKay Rd. W. near Veterans Dr. when they hit a hole dug in the road. Photo by JACK BOLAND /TORONTO SUN
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The city of Barrie is mourning the deaths of six people in their 20s, as friends and acquaintances left flowers Monday to cordon off the scene of a fatal single-vehicle crash on a partially closed highway.
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The incident happened Saturday along Mckay Rd. East of Essa Rd.
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The group of six friends was reported missing on Saturday.
Concerned families, friends and strangers launched a community-driven social media push to find them.
Police found them and their vehicle around 2 a.m. Sunday
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The vehicle they were in may have plunged into a large hole being dug in the middle of Mckay Rd W. just east of Essa Rd.
The road was marked as closed to local traffic only on Monday due to months of construction.
Friends identified the six friends on a GoFundMe page as Curtis King, Haley Marin, Jersey Mitchell, Jason O’Connor, River Wells and Luke West.
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“We brought a bouquet of flowers for all of them. I knew most of them. I met with two of them that night before the accident,” Kailey Graham said, adding that she met them at a bar in downtown Barrie on Friday night.
“They were a great group of people. A great group. Curtis was funny. Jersey, no matter what, he’s always got your back. Just super love. Like a big sister,” said Kayleigh Bryant Nordeen, who last saw the group around 4 a.m. Saturday.
“We just thought they were heading home.”
At least two GofundMe campaigns have been set up to help pay for the funerals.
Curtis King is one of six young people killed in a crash near Barrie over the weekend. Photo by Jason King/Facebook
“Our family is heartbroken by this devastating loss. We understand there is little we can do to ease our family’s pain,” wrote Shelly Graham, who organized a fundraiser for Marin’s family.
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He leaves behind his mother Kimberly More and his brothers Aiden and Cody and his father Eric.
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Another message on a GoFundMe page set up by the Barrie Community Support Fund said: “Our community has been shaken to the core, our flags are at half-mast and six families are devastated by the loss of their loved ones dear ones.”
Luke West, known as “Westy” to his friends, was a longtime player and coach for the Barrie Minor Lacrosse Association and the Bombers Jr C. Lacrosse Club.
“Westy: The impact you had on your teammates, coaches and the young men you coached is immeasurable,” the lacrosse organization wrote. “We love you, miss you, and appreciate the time we spent with you.”
He is survived by his parents David and Sue, and his brother, Mark.
On Monday, Barrie police, the coroner’s office and Ministry of Labor investigators were at the scene of the accident conducting their investigations.
Six young adults died over the weekend in the Barrie area. It is believed they were traveling on McKay Rd. W. near Veterans Dr. when they hit a hole dug in the road. A police officer patrols the area on Monday, August 29, 2022. JACK BOLAND/TORONTO SUN
Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman called what happened a “shocking and horrific tragedy.”
Flags were flying at half-mast at Barrie City Hall on Monday.
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