UPDATED: Local business owner starts fundraiser for nurse killed in Christina Lake MVA
By Boundary Sentinel
Ed. Note: The following was submitted to the Source after a local nurse and Christina Lake resident was heading home from the funeral of a second nurse and her vehicle was struck by a falling tree, crushing the driver’s side of her SUV (see coverage below).
Hi, my name is Chantel Fullerton and there has recently been a tragic accident that has struck my small hometown of Christina Lake. Amanda Koppin (O’Connor) was tragically taken from this world at the young age of 33.
Amanda was always optimistic, had a smile on her face, and knew how to make a person feel special. She walked into a room and instantly made it brighter.
Amanda has left behind her husband Ben and young son Caleb. On Tuesday April 7 from 7-9 p.m. my company, JK Apparel Castlegar, will be doing an Online Fundraiser where anyone in Canada can take part in bidding for JK Apparel Women and Children’s Clothing Items. JK Apparel Castlegar will be donating products such as leggings to be bid on and all the proceeds will go directly to Amanda Koppin’s Family Fund.
I hope to be able to help the Koppin Family with the financial burden a death can cause, and to be able to allow Ben to stay at home longer with his son Caleb during this devastating time. Please join me, and the other 121 people who will be taking part in Tuesday’s Online Fundraiser on Facebook by going to “Amanda Koppin (O’Connor) Family Fundraiser.” If you don’t have Facebook and would like to donate directly to the family, please send your donation via online e-transfer to koppinfamilyfund@gmail.com.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to read this, and I hope you will join us online Tuesday April 7 from 7-9 p.m. (PDT).
Previous coverage:
The BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identity of a woman who died after a motor vehicle incident near Christina Lake on March 26. She was Amanda Louise Koppin, aged 33, of Christina Lake.
Koppin was the driver and sole occupant of an SUV that was travelling westbound on Highway 3 at Christina Lake at about 3 p.m. on March 26. About 200 metres west of East Lake Drive, Koppin’s vehicle was struck on the roof by a large, dead tree which had tumbled end-over-end about 28 metres down from a cliff above the highway. Koppin was deceased at the scene.
The BC Coroners Service and RCMP Traffic Services continue to investigate this death. No logging or tree-clearing operations were taking place in the area from which the tree fell.
Previous coverage:
Highway 3 is closed in both directions tonight after a fatal motor vehicle incident five kilometres west of Christina Lake, right near Texas Point.
Christina Lake fire chief Ken Gresley-Jones said the call came in at roughly 2 p.m.
“It was a tree that fell on the car, crushing the driver’s side. The vehicle then went off the road and into the rocks,” he said, adding the vehicle was a small SUV.
“The driver did not survive.”
He said removing the debris, pulling the vehicle from the rocks, and awaiting attendance of the Coroner Service have required that the highway be closed for an indeterminate amount of time.
Motorists on scene have indicated that, as of 5:30 p.m., Emcon was on scene with a loader, assisting in clearing the highway.
Currently there is no estimated time of the highway reopening, according to Drive BC.
