By Laura Czekaj
Ottawa Sun
OTTAWA, Ontario — Paramedics across the region are in mourning after one of their colleagues was killed in a crash involving a stolen car.
Flags are flying at half-staff at paramedic headquarters in the city, and paramedics are wearing black ribbons on their arms after Marie Lou Dubois of Gatineau was killed early Saturday morning in a head-on collision just minutes from work.
“It hits home when it’s one of your own,” said Ottawa paramedic spokesman Steve Leu.
Shortly after 7 a.m., Dubois, 29, was northbound on Hwy. 105 on her way to work in Maniwaki when her Hyundai Accent was struck by a Ford Fusion that had drifted into her lane.
SUSPECT AT-LARGE
The driver of the Ford escaped into the woods on foot and is still at large.
It took rescue workers nearly an hour to extract Dubois from her car. She was declared dead at Maniwaki hospital, where she was well known by staff.
The town of Maniwaki, which has a population of 4,195, was stunned by Dubois’ death. Her colleagues have taken it especially hard.
“It was a huge shock for the rescue workers who were sent to the scene of the accident,” said paramedic spokesman Marco Regis-Parr. “They weren’t expecting to treat one of their colleagues.”
The workers who took the call have been given leave and are receiving counseling.
Dubois was a cheerful woman, according to Regis-Parr.
“She was a pleasant person who paid close attention to her colleagues,” he said.
“We’re going to miss her a lot.”
Ottawa paramedics said the young woman had recently graduated from the paramedic program at La Cite Collegiale and had done a portion of her on-road training in Ottawa.
IN SHOCK
Paul Morneau, paramedic team leader, said those who rode with Dubois during her training were in shock at the loss of such a promising colleague.
She had lived in Gatineau for the past few years, but was originally from Sherbrooke, he said.
Paramedics on both sides of the river are waiting to learn about funeral plans.
If the family is willing, Morneau said Ottawa paramedics are eager to show their support for the family and their colleagues, as well as their respect for Dubois, through their presence at a memorial or funeral ceremony.
The tragedy is made even more difficult to bear with the knowledge the man who was driving a stolen car fled without offering help to Dubois, said Morneau.
Police sent a canine unit after the suspect, but have not caught him yet.