The seven Albertans who were killed in a fiery crash in Colorado were rushing back to Canada in order to keep a pair of medical appointments, says the brother of the deceased.
Abram Rempel, of Willingdon, Alta., says his 42-year-old brother Jacob Sr., his wife, Susana, 40, and his son Jacob Jr., 16, all of Vauxhall, Alta., had traveled to Mexico to visit family.
They were accompanied by Susana Rempel, 30, and her two young sons, three-year-old Johan and 21-month-old Heinrich, all of Willingdon, Alta., as well as family friend Joseph Dick, 33, of Taber, Alta.
State police say the crash happened on Interstate 25 near Johnstown, Colo., about 65 kilometres north of Denver.
Police say the SUV was northbound at about 4:30 a.m. on Thursday when it veered into the median and went airborne between two bridges that cross over another road. It burst into flames on impact.
It is still not clear what caused the crash, but investigators have said weather was not a factor.
Abram Rempel said the group had been driving day and night, in order to keep a pair of medical appointments in Vauxhall, Alta.
Rempel told CTV News he was hoping to fly his family in Mexico to Alberta for the funeral. However he doesn't think he'll be able to afford the $10,000 in airfare and is hoping donations from the public will help cover the cost.
With files from CTV Edmonton and The Canadian Press
