MANILA, Philippines - After working in Canada for almost two years, Renato Huelgas thought of once again joining his family in the Philippines this Christmas.
But this will never happen. Huelga and three other Filipino workers were killed in a highway crash in Canada’s eastern province of Alberta on Sunday.
A report by the Edmonton Journal said Huelgas and his companions were on their way to Edmonton, the provincial capital, on Sunday night when their sport utility vehicle slammed into a semi-trailer on Highway 63, near Wandering River.
Three of the Filipinos who were killed in the crash, namely Huelgas, 47, April Buenaflor, 23, and Yvette Nones, 28, were all foreign workers temporarily employed in Alberta.
The fourth victim, Ralph Adriano, 49, was reportedly a long-time resident of Fort McMurray in Alberta and an active member of the local Filipino community.
The driver of the semi-trailer was reportedly treated at the scene for minor injuries and was released.
The report said Huelgas, Buenaflor, and Nones had all worked for Tim Hortons and Wendy’s in Thickwood, Fort McMurray for about two years.
“They were very close to all of our employees in our stores, it has touched everybody," Wayne Bigelow, vice-president of operations for Tollcorp Enterprises, the franchisee for both restaurants.
He also told the Edmonton Journal that their company is now in close contact with the families of the deceased in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, authorities said that the accident is still under investigation.
“We are still trying to piece together the chain of events that occurred to create this collision and are considering conducting a mechanical inspection on both vehicles involved," said Royal Canadian Mounted Police Const. Karl Mandel
Honorary Consul Esmeralda Agbulos has apparently been informed of the incident and is just waiting for the medical reports.
