Tyrone Smallchild was killed Tuesday night when two trucks collided south of MacDowall. (Facebook)

By Nigel Maxwell

Tragic events

‘He was a man with many talents’: online fundraiser launched to help family of man after fatal crash

Jul 29, 2022 | 5:00 PM

Tributes and support are pouring in for the family of a man killed in a car crash earlier this week.

As of Friday afternoon, a GoFundMe had raised over $3,000.

Late Tuesday evening, Tyrone Smallchild, from Beardy’s and Okemasis’ Cree Nation, had been driving south along Highway 11, and had just passed MacDowall, when he collided with a northbound truck that had been travelling on the wrong side of the twinned highway.

Smallchild was killed, and his two sons, ages 3 and 22, who had been riding as passengers, were sent to hospital with serious injuries. According to a friend who created the online fundraiser, their goal is to raise $15,000. The money will be used to pay for funeral costs but also the costs associated to allow the mother to take time off from work and be at her young son’s side.

“Parker [3] will have a very long road to recovery and Laura needs to be with him. We want to thank each and everyone of you in advance for your donations,” the statement reads .

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A picture posted of the family on the GoFundMe page. (Claudette Mooney)

According to Smallchild’s Facebook page, he worked with QBOW Child and Family Services, and was also involved with local minor hockey and had a passion for training and working with horses.

Lois Isnana, executive director with QBOW Child and Family Services Inc., provided a statement for paNOW and confirmed Smallchild was an employee for approximately two years, and had worked as a prevention worker for the community of Beardy’s & Okemasis Cree Nation.

“When Tyrone joined our organization he was very eager to begin his new job duties, he soon built relationships with his clients, especially with the youth. He had a very warm personality, always had positive comments about the children and families he worked with,” she said.

Isnana went to describe Smallchild as very easy going, and said he had a zest for life with a great sense of humor and always had a smile for everyone.

“Many of us knew him personally, was well loved among our staff, we will miss Tyrone at our work place,” she said. “He was a man with many talents, in the areas of horsemanship, to which was his true passion. He was an avid athlete in hockey, soccer and golf.”

Smallchild was also a former band councillor and when interviewed by paNOW in 2017, had played an instrumental role in the return of Sports Days to the community.

The cause of Tuesday night’s crash remains under investigation. The driver and lone occupant of the northbound truck, a 16-year-old girl, was declared deceased at the scene.

A view of the crash site. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

According to a post Wednesday by the Prince Albert Fire Dept., they responded the previous night for a multiple motor vehicle collision with reported entrapment and fire. On arrival crews discovered two vehicles had collided and were on fire.

Prince Albert Fire Crews assisted MacDowall, Duck Lake, and Rosthern Fire Departments in extinguishing the blaze. PAFD set up a safe landing zone on Highway 11 for Stars Ambulance while guiding them to a safe landing and takeoff.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell