Friends struggle with disbelief, frustration in wake of crash that orphaned 3 sisters
CBC News | Posted: December 27, 2016 4:28 PM | Last Updated: December 27, 2016
Those who know the Elkady sisters say they can't get information on their conditions
Friends of three Calgary sisters left orphaned after a deadly crash near Pincher Creek, Alta., on Christmas Eve are grappling with frustration and disbelief in the wake of the tragedy.
The family's minivan was involved in a crash along a slippery Highway 3, the parents, Mohamed Elkady and Hana Hussein, were killed.
Daughters Sara, Salma and Dina, range in age from their late teens to early 20s, and are in hospital. RCMP said one of them is still in life-threatening condition, though friends aren't sure which of the sisters that might be.
Left a day early
"It just feels like something out of a nightmare," said Diego Parra, who is good friends with Salma and Sara. "It hurt me finding out about the parents and then about Salma and then about Sara. I know Dina's okay. I know Dina will make it. My major worries are Sarah and Salma."
Parra said the family left a day early to travel to B.C. in order to visit friends when the crash occurred.
"And it sucks because they weren't even supposed to go on that trip on the 24th. Me and Salma had planned something on the 24th, just like a hangout on Christmas Eve, and then on the 25th they were supposed to leave," he said. "I don't know why exactly the dad or the parents decided to change the date, but they did."
Frustration with hospital
Abigail Tsegaye, who has known Salma since the two were in Grade 6, said she's frustrated by a lack of information on her friend's condition.
"The hospital hasn't been very helpful with us, which makes things difficult because from what we know, her condition is not too well," she said. "We haven't been able to contact her."
Tsegaye said family is everything to Salma and that if she's conscious, she will be devastated by what's happened.
"There's a lot of people who are willing to see her and a lot of people who are willing to be there for these girls and not one person has been cooperative in letting us see them," she said.
Uncle in Egypt
Tsegaye is aware the hospital can't give out information to people who aren't family, but she says there's no family left in the city.
An uncle to the daughters is trying to obtain an emergency visa to travel from Egypt to Canada and assist the family.
Meanwhile, the local Egyptian community plans to open a bank account for all the donations it's been receiving for the sisters.
- MORE CALGARY NEWS | Man killed in Christmas Day stabbing in southeast Calgary
- MORE CALGARY NEWS | City crews racing to clear major routes in Calgary ahead of Tuesday's commute