Family mourns young father killed in suspected impaired driving crash in Manitoba

A young father is being remembered as a devoted husband and provider after he was killed in a suspected impaired driving crash while riding his motorcycle in St. Andrews, Man.

Winston Supena, 30, died after he was struck by a truck at the corner of Mitchell Bay and Main Street. RCMP believe the driver of the truck was impaired at the time of the collision.

He leaves behind two young children and a grieving wife who says she doesn’t know how her family will move forward.

“I don’t think my kids truly understand what’s happening,” said Mica Orcullo Supena, Winston’s wife. “He understands the fact of, my daddy’s body is in the hospital but his spirit is with Papa Jesus. But I don’t think they know that dad is not going to come home.”

Mica said her husband was the family’s primary provider, working two jobs as a health-care aide. She said he worked extra hours to help cover the cost of her medications, following a heart attack in January of last year which led to an ongoing heart condition.

“Wo when you ask me, how do I see my family in the next couple days even — I can’t tell,” she said.

Marco Orcullo, Mica’s brother, said Winston was extremely devoted to their family.

“He always went above and beyond for his family. Anyone in my family,” said Orcullo.

He said he’s concerned for the young family’s future, and worried about how his nephew and niece will react once they understand Winston won’t be coming home.

“I’ll do everything I can to try and fill that void for them but I know no matter what I do, it would never be the same for them,” he said.

The Filipino community is organizing a vigil Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at the intersection where the crash occurred to honour Winston and call for an end to impaired driving.

“I don’t want anybody else to go through this either. To go through the same heartbreak,” said Mica Orcullo Supena.

RCMP say the 67-year-old driver of the truck had his licence suspended. No arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing.

Mica said she and her husband shared a love for motorcycles, and riding together was a way they connected.

“What made it more memorable for me is, I was doing it with the person I loved the most. Sharing the same passion as him. Being able to experience what he loved the most,” she said.

She added that more awareness is needed to keep motorcyclists safe.

“They’re just as important as any vehicle on the road.”