2 women who died trying to save turtle on road in Chatham-Kent, Ont., remembered for love of animals
CBC
It was a shock to Dorothy Suliga when she learned that her mother, Teresa Suliga, and her aunt, Elizabeth Seremak, had been struck and killed by a vehicle on a rural road in Chatham-Kent.
But it wasn't surprising that the two women were trying to save a turtle at the time.
"My whole family just said, yes, of course they were," Dorothy Suliga told CBC Windsor.
"They always saved everything. From a little bird to a tree... It was always their nature to help any living thing."
The two senior women were fatally hit by a vehicle on Charing Cross Road just south-east of Chatham on the evening of May 18, shortly after 7 p.m.
Chatham-Kent police have confirmed that the two women — ages 68 and 66 — stopped their own vehicle on the side of the road near Horton Line, and exited the vehicle to help a turtle cross the roadway.
On Wednesday, police said their investigation remains ongoing. No charges have been laid.
The vehicle that hit the two women was northbound. The section of Charing Cross Road is a straight two-lane road, with ditches on either side and no street lighting. The posted speed limit is 80 km/h.
"The road is flat and wide-open. Their car had hazard lights on," Dorothy said. "I'm finding it extremely difficult to put the pieces together to understand."
Despite such questions, Dorothy said she knows her mother would have forgiven the driver.
"It's not, for me, about looking to place blame. I think mistakes happen," Dorothy said.
"My message for everyone, for the public, is to just be as safe as possible. This can destroy our lives so quickly... Especially on these farm roads where vehicles are going fast."
Dorothy expressed gratitude to the people who immediately stopped and tried to help — especially some off-duty emergency nurses. "They stayed by her side and they held her hand and they rubbed her head as she took her last few breaths."
"I cannot say how grateful I am for everybody that was on-scene, as it was my biggest fear that she passed alone."
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