Community mourns the loss of 4 teens following a fatal vehicle collision Sunday evening

A community is suffering an unimaginable loss after four Manitoba teens died in a car crash Sunday evening. One of the victims was 18-year-old Chloe Vermette, whose loved ones have been left heartbroken.

“She was amazing. She had such a great soul. And there is no one in this world who could honestly replace that,” said Haylee Mackay.

For Mackay, Vermette wasn’t just a close friend. After years of growing up together, she had become family.

“When you’re friends for that long, you just become family at that point,” said Mackay.

Sunday night started like so many others for the group of friends. Mackay says Vermette headed out with them for ice cream and to spend the evening together.

“Being with her people was something that she loved to do. Her family, her friends. And that’s how this unfortunately happened. She was with her friends,” said Mackay.

At just 18 years old, Vermette was only beginning her next chapter, having graduated from high school just three months ago in June.

“She had so much life left to live. And unfortunately, she didn’t get to that point.”

Mackay remembers Vermette as someone who put family first and who could often be found around cars, trucks, and the dirt track, with a love for just about anything automotive.

“I would like people to think of her with grace. She was honestly an amazing person. She was the light. She would walk into the room, and everything would light up,” Mackay explained.

RCMP says that at approximately 9:15 p.m. on Sunday, Mounties from Gimli responded to a report of a two-vehicle collision near Winnipeg Beach.

The collision occurred when a vehicle travelling west on Highway 229 was struck while crossing Highway 8 by a southbound van.

Vermette along with two other 18-year-olds and a 17-year-old travelling in the westbound vehicle were gravely injured and died at the scene.

RCMP say the intersection has stop signs for westbound and eastbound traffic. Both vehicles went into the southwest ditch, with one vehicle rolling and landing on its roof, which is now raising serious safety concerns.

“I heard some of the parents’ suggestions for how we can make this safer for everybody. And I committed to them that we’re going to take those actions. Both stuff that we can do relatively quickly and some longer-term fixes as well too,” said Premier Wab Kinew.

A 49-year-old man suffered minor injuries from the collision, while an adult female and two children were taken to the hospital for treatment.

For Mackay, she just wants Vermette to be remembered for who she was.