Red Earth Creek, Alta., family mourns mother, daughter killed in head-on collision

A grieving family in northwestern Alberta is asking witnesses to contact RCMP to help in the investigation of a head-on highway collision that killed a mother and daughter.

Corinne Marybelle Fitzgerald, 49, and Meagan Carissa Briand, 33, a mother of two young children, died Sunday near their community of Red Earth Creek.

Both women were civilian members of the Red Earth Creek RCMP detachment.

Two people in the other vehicle also died. At the time of the crash, police were on the lookout for that vehicle, which had been the subject of complaints about impaired driving.

DNA testing is underway to confirm their identities, RCMP said in an interview with CBC News.

Ricky Fitzgerald told CBC News his sister Corinne and niece Meagan were attached at the hip since birth, and one of them was always with Meagan's kids:  Aliyah, 10 and Brody or "bro bro," eight.

He said Briand was a rock who held the family together, lighting up a room with her infectious laugh and smile, and there was nothing she wouldn't do for her children.

His sister, Fitzgerald said, was the first one there for you and worshipped her grandchildren.

"We are struggling hard with losing both of them so suddenly and two beautiful little kids left behind without the two most important people in their lives — our hearts are breaking for them," Fitzgerald wrote in a message to CBC News.

"We are mad, sad at a loss and then sometimes it just doesn't seem real."

An online fundraiser set up in the children's names had collected nearly $24,000 by midday Thursday.

Mother and daughter worked at the local RCMP detachment for four years. Briand was an administrator on the front desk and Fitzgerald was the lead guard of the cell block.

"They brought joy to the detachment all the time," RCMP Const. Julie-Ann Strilaiff said. 

"It's just devastating because we have to go to work and know who they are, and especially after trying life-saving on the two of them — they were wonderful women"

She said several witnesses have already spoken to investigators but RCMP hope to speak with anyone who witnessed the crash, the events leading up to it, or witnessed the driving behaviour of the second vehicle.

"We're still gathering as much as we possibly can to be able to have the most accurate information," Strilaiff said.

First responders are receiving support from victim services, which is also helping the family and community members struggling with the deaths.

Community pillars

The tragedy hit close to home for the close-knit community of Red Earth Creek, about 420 kilometres northwest of Edmonton, with a population of 315.

"Together, Megan and Corinne were true pillars of Red Earth Creek, exemplifying strength, kindness, love, and fun," said Brendan Powell, deputy reeve of the Municipal District of Opportunity No. 17, which oversees Red Earth Creek.

"Their tragic loss has left the community in shock, sadness, and major grief. It has also united residents in a show of support for the family, friends and co-workers affected. The love and support is a testament to the impact Megan and Corinne had on all who knew them.

"We mourn the loss of two remarkable women."

Fitzgerald expressed gratitude for the overwhelming amount of support the family has received at this difficult time. 

"The support and kind words our family is receiving from our community of Red Earth Creek and our hometowns back in Cape Breton, and all across Canada for that matter has been so helpful to us all in dealing with this sudden tragedy put upon our family," Fitzgerald said.

"We can't say thank you enough."