Fort McMurray Forum

Mother of Highway 63 crash victim frustrated at speed of twinning

A Fort McMurray mother who lost her son years ago is speaking out in the wake of the latest tragedy on Highway 63.

Carolyn Slade lost her 21-year old son Justin in a collision between Mariana Lake and Wandering River in 2004.

She says its hard to watch the pace of twinning on the notoriously dangerous highway.

"If in 2006 the committment that was made would have come to fruition , I would have said, you know what, the pain and suffering was wroth it because something positive has come out of it. But I mean we have not seen that. It's six years later, it's not two years later, it's not six years," Slade told Fort McMurray News.

She questions why major city centres are constantly receiving new and upgrades roads while Fort McMurray is being left behind.

She also shares sympathy with the families who lost loved ones in Friday's tragic head-on collision that killed seven people, including two children.

"It changes their lives and the lives of all the family members. I know that the pain doesn't go away. From now on every cross that they will see on the highway will have a totally different meaning to them. Because to me, today, every cross I see on the highway is a reminder."

The Justin Slade Youth Foundation was formed in November 2004 to honour his life by helping and inspiring local youth.