A five-year-old boy whose dad and older brother died in a car crash near Kamloops last week has also now died.
Quinn Cochlin, of Alberta, was scheduled to donate his organs on Wednesday, according to a GoFundMe page set up for the family.
“Quinn [the younger child] will be donating his heart, liver and kidneys tonight. He is a hero. The family appreciates, and is thankful for, all of the love and offers of support. In the near future there will be a time to celebrate the lives of Mike, Liam and Quinn.”
Mike Cochlin and sons Liam and Quinn were travelling northbound on Highway 5A near Stump Lake when their vehicle left the road and plunged down an embankment on Feb. 23.
Emergency crews were called to a stretch of Highway 5A 30 kilometres south of Kamloops at about 5:45 p.m., when they found the Alberta family’s vehicle heavily damaged down a steep embankment.
Mike, 47, was pronounced dead at the scene, while Liam, 8, and Quinn, 5, were rushed to Royal Inland Hospital but have both since died.
The fundraiser on GoFundMe was created on Tuesday night and had raised more than $23,000 toward a $100,000 goal as of Wednesday morning. The post identifies the Erin Cochlin as Mike’s widow and the mother of Liam and Quinn.
Snow was falling in the Kamloops area on Sunday night, but it’s not yet known whether weather played a role in the crash.
Nevertheless, Shelkie said the incident should serve as a reminder to drive safe.
“The RCMP would like to remind motorists to always drive defensively and cautiously,” she said.
The investigation is ongoing.
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