Tianna Gatto, 22, and Ethan Novotny, 17, were killed on April 10, when the car they were in, was involved in a crash just north of the Muskoday store. (Submitted photo/ Sydney Witall)
vandalism

Roadside memorial damaged

May 4, 2020 | 12:58 PM

Just over three weeks have passed since Brad Brule’s daughter Tianna was killed in a car crash on highway 3, south of Prince Albert. On Friday, news was shared on social media that the special roadside memorial appeared to have been vandalized.

Speaking with paNOW on Monday, Brule said he is disgusted.

“I don’t understand what is going through somebody’s head like that. They are not really hurting the ones that took their last breath at that location, they are hurting the family, friends, and the support group,” he said.

In the immediate hours following the crash on April 10, two wooden crosses were erected at the crash site by a member of the Muskoday Volunteer Fire Department. Since then, friends of family of the two people killed, Tianna Gatto and Ethan Novotny, have added to the memorial by leaving flowers and various personal mementos.

Brule recalled on Friday afternoon, some friends of his daughter’s had gone to the site around 3:30 p.m. and reported everything was fine. By 6 p.m. some pictures surfaced on social media showing the damage. Brule explained the crosses, which had been anchored into the ground using Rebar, were kicked off, and one of the crosses was split as a result. The flowers were also tossed around and scattered.

“There was no way it was from the weather … impossible,” Brule said.

A photo taken of the scattered flowers. (Submitted photo/ Sydney Witall)

Brule said he has not called the RCMP, adding he is not sure if it will help at all. He explained after going to the site Friday night and standing the crosses back up, he went over to speak to Ethan’s father to explain what happened. It was the first time the two men had talked since the accident.

“We sat there and talked for three hours … cried, laughed, whatever. I don’t understand why somebody would do that but you know what they say about Karma so that’s what they are going to have coming,” he said.

Over the weekend, new crosses were built and erected at the site, using material which would make the monument stronger and more secure..

According to a gofundme account created to help Tianna’s family, the young mother always put others first and was described as someone who was very strong-willed, passionate, caring, loving, and hardworking.

Brule thanked all the people who have expressed condolences and support for both families. He explained a celebration of life will be held for Tianna on the family’s farm when it’s safe to do so.

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell

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