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‘We feel for those children’: Community saddened by hit and run that killed mother of five in central Alberta

“What about the children?”
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Sunchild First Nations resident, Debbie Bird, was killed in a hit and run Friday on Sunchild Road, about 2.2 kilometres west of school road. Photo via Facebook

“What about the children?”

That is a Sunchild First Nation resident’s thought after hearing about the hit-and-run accident that killed a mother of five.

Debbie Bird, 39, was struck by a motor vehicle at approximately 3 a.m. Friday while walking on Sunchild Road.

Emergency Medical Services and the Rocky Mountain House RCMP found the woman dead. The vehicle had fled.

Phyllis Baird, a Sunchild resident, said she saw the news on Facebook.

“I knew her. I know her children,” she said.

“I was thinking about the kids mainly. Those poor kids. The one little boy is in Grade 1 and he’s got a learning disability, and there are older kids too, so that was my first thought,” said the 49-year-old woman.

“I work in the school cafeteria, so I see the kids a lot.”

Sunchild First Nation, a community of about 749 people 60 kilometres northwest of Rocky Mountain House, is reeling from the incident.

“A lot of the community, from what I’ve heard, is sad. Especially those kids, we feel for those children a lot,” said Baird.

“Whoever did the hit and run, it would be nice if they come forward so the family can get past this, get some closure, peace of mind,” she said.

Rocky Mountain House RCMP continue to investigate the case.

RCMP cannot confirm whether drugs or alcohol were a factor in the accident. Police encourage people to call the Rocky Mountain House RCMP with any tips at 403-845-2882.

A GoFundMe page has raised about $175 out of its $2,500 goal to cover funeral expenses and help the family at this time.



mamta.lulla@reddeeradvocate.com

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