Children identified in St. Clair River road tragedy

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Source: Wallaceburg Courier Press

ONTARIO - A 10-year-old boy who loved the outdoors and his six-year-old sister described as "a real sweetie" are dead after the car they were travelling in left the road and plunged into the St. Clair River Thursday.

The car was driven by the children's 48-year-old grandmother, Sarnia police said. The Wallaceburg resident and her 12-year-old daughter managed to escape the vehicle and reach shore.

They were treated and released from hospital.

The car veered off the St. Clair Parkway about 7 p.m. on the Aamjiwnaang First Nation, south of the Suncor curve.

Rescue workers found Tyler Talbot, 10, and Taiya Talbot, 6 in the submerged vehicle but were unable to resuscitate them.

"They were both outdoors kids," said great aunt Cathy Vickerd, of Courtright.

"Tyler liked fishing with his grandpa and he loved to go camping. Taiya was very outgoing. She was a real sweetie."

The pair were the only children of Stefanie Bernard and Greg Talbot, of Wallaceburg.

Vickerd said the four family members were headed to Sarnia for a shopping trip when the crash occurred.

Tyler and Taiya attended St. Elizabeth Catholic School in Wallaceburg, in Grades 5 and 1.

School students and staff were "walking around like zombies" on Friday, one parent told Sun Media.

The tragedy sent shock waves through the Westcourt housing complex where the family lives.

"They were friendly. Taiya had a smile that would just melt your heart. I guess she was God's little angel sent to bring some life and love there," said a neighbour, whose children were classmates of Tyler and Taiya.

The St. Clair Catholic District School Board sent a pastoral care team and a chaplaincy leader to St. Elizabeth.

"We turn to our faith in times of inexplicable tragedy, and that's one of the messages we give the students," said director of education Paul Wubben.

"For some reason it seems even sadder when it happens at Christmas time, a family time."

Teachers described Tyler and Taiya as "vibrant and very joyful kids," said school superintendent Deb Crawford.

"They were known for their smiles and their enthusiasm, a very positive approach to everything."

Families brought food and flowers and school assemblies were held throughout the day. Grief counsellors with the board's compassionate care team will be available as long as students and staff have need, Crawford said.

"It's been a very moving response to this tragic event."

The crash scene swarmed with emergency personnel Thursday night, including Sarnia police and firefighters, paramedics, Point Edward firefighters, St. Clair County divers, and marine units from the U.S. coast guard, Point Edward and St. Clair County in Michigan.

The Parkway, also known as River Road, was closed from Churchill Road to Marlborough Avenue and didn't reopen to traffic until Friday afternoon.

Firefighters and police officers on scene did their best to locate the vehicle before marine units arrived. Firefighters donned dry suits and one officer entered the icy water without additional protection to search for the submerged car.

Sarnia police Const. Bill Baines said the deaths have taken an emotional toll.

"It's difficult dealing with tragedies like this that involve children," he said. "Many of the people ... likely have families at home with young kids, so it does really hit home."

On Friday, two Sarnia police officers scoured the ground for tire tracks near a parked police mobile command unit. River Road at that point has a wide shoulder but drops off steeply to the water below.

"I don't want to prejudge the findings of the investigation," Baines said. "Guard rails under certain conditions, of course, could be of benefit. Would they be beneficial along here? Off the top of my head I would say they likely would."

With files from David Gough, Sun Media