Family are remembering the victim of a motorcycle crash in Red Deer last week as someone could light up a room just by her presence.
Tara Leah Carleton, 37, of Red Deer, was severely injured early Friday evening in a collision at the intersection of 19th Street and 49th Avenuer. She was taken to Red Deer Regional Hospital by ambulance before being flown to Calgary by Stars Air Ambulance. She later succumbed to her injuries and died.
Her father, Tom Carleton, told the Advocate on Tuesday that she was a wonderful daughter.
“She liked sports, she played ringette for a number of years.”
“She was a social person, she made friends easily and when she walked into a room she could light it up just from her presence and her smile.”
He said it felt good to hear someone laugh like Tara did.
A caring woman, she talked often with her father, who lives in the St. Albert area.
“She was outgoing, she wasn’t shy,” said Tom Carleton. “She was never afraid to meet new people, strike up a conversation. She wasn’t reserved.”
Tara adored her nieces.
“Especially Bailey, the older one, when she was five years old Aunty Tara was a very special person in her life,” said Tom Carleton.
“Bailey is quite shy and really only her parents and Aunty Tara really had any closeness with her for the longest time.”
Tara worked at Gasoline Alley Harley Davidson as a senior service consultant and had been riding for more than 10 years. She worked in Red Deer for a long time, but had also lived and worked for Harley Davidson in the Chicago area.
Condolences sent to the family describe her as having a personality as big as the Prairie Sky and a young, vibrant woman.
Red Deer RCMP were called to the scene at about 5:15 p.m. Friday and were joined by Red Deer Fire and EMS. Police said witness reports and an analysis of the collision scene indicate the motorcycle struck the median and flipped. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.
A funeral for Tara Leah Carleton is scheduled for Thursday in St. Albert.
mcrawford@www.reddeeradvocate.com