The deaths of two Eskasoni residents Friday after a two-vehicle crash on Highway 4 in East Bay, NS, has thrown the close-knit community into a state of mourning.
Simon Jeddore, 80, and his son Noel, 38, are the latest in eight deaths that have rocked the community this month, Chief Leroy Denny said Sunday.
Denny said the elder Jeddore was involved with the Eskasoni Fire Department most of his life before retiring about 10 years ago.
“[He] dedicated his life to the people, saving lives and organizing the firefighters for many years in Eskasoni,” Denny said.
“He was our honorary fire chief. We gave him a jacket when we opened a new fire station… He was very happy that we had a brand new fire station, new trucks and new equipment.”
Denny said Jeddore also took care of the community cemetery for many years.
Broken and saddened
Denny said Escasoni was “devastated” and “saddened” by the loss of the two men and praised their dedication to the community.
After news of the deaths, Denny said a crisis team set up comfort centers where people could get food and be together.
He said that a sacred fire was lit and other ceremonies were offered.
Chief Leroy Denny says the community has lost eight members this month. (George Mortimer)
Emergency services responded to a report of a collision at 4:19 p.m. Friday, according to an RCMP news release released Saturday.
RCMP say a transport truck traveling east and a Chevy Traverse traveling west collided.
Two men were seriously injured and taken to hospital by ambulance, the release said. The men later died in hospital.
The truck driver, a 46-year-old man from Sydney, was not injured, according to the release.
Weather conditions were poor at the time of the crash, the release said.
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