The new year has turned tragic for a family in west Quebec after a mother and daughter were killed in a two-vehicle collision on an isolated stretch of road on Highway 310 on the Chenaux Bridge, near Renfrew, Ont.
Quebec provincial police say two cars collided on the bridge at Portage-du-Fort between Ontario and Quebec at about 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
Guylaine Lepage, 48, and her 19-year-old daughter, Michelle Berndt, were both killed in the two-car collision.
The pair lived with their family in Litchfield, Que., a community of about 500 people.
"They were fun to be with, joking around, would help anybody out," said husband and father Robert Berndt on Monday. "We're trying to hold on, be strong with the rest of the family."
Robert said his wife and daughter were returning from the Subway restaurant about half an hour away in Renfrew where Michelle worked.
He said the highway is known for poor road conditions.
"When I took my daughter to work, the roads hadn't even been plowed," Rovert said. "They had 20 minutes left to get home. They never made it."
Police said later Monday Lepage lost control because of the road conditions and the state of her winter tires.
Three people in the other vehicle suffered minor injuries.
Michelle's co-workers said they're still in shock about her loss, and that she was scheduled to work Monday afternoon.
"Everybody enjoyed her, we had a Christmas party not too long ago," said manager Sue Fleming. "She was at the party and she loved to draw . . . it's very hard to get used to."
Guylaine and Robert had been married for 17 years. They had four children – Cassandra, Jesse, and twin sisters Michelle and Robin.
"I just wish they were back," Robert said. "I'd do anything to get them back . . . I mean anything."
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Claudia Cautillo
