Residents of Sault Ste. Marie are rallying to support a local family after a devastating crash that claimed the life of a young child and left others critically injured.
On the evening of Jan. 7, Wendy Hinan was driving with her two-year-old son, Devereaux, when their car was hit head-on near Black Road and Second Line East. Hinan, who was seven months pregnant at the time, suffered severe and life-threatening injuries, including serious head trauma. She was taken to Sault Area Hospital, where doctors performed an emergency cesarean section.
Both children were flown to Toronto for intensive medical treatment. Devereaux later died at SickKids hospital. The baby, a girl named Verena, remains hospitalized in Toronto and is receiving specialized care, though her long-term outlook remains unclear.
Police say their investigation determined the van involved in the crash was speeding and crossed into the opposite lane before impact. Police have confirmed the van’s 43-year-old driver also died, though the individual’s identity has not been made public.
In the wake of the tragedy, community members have donated generously, with an online fundraiser for the Hinan family bringing in close to $200,000 by Thursday afternoon.