Alexandra Paul dead: Olympic figure skater, 31, dies in Canada pile …
Alexandra Paul dead: Olympic figure skater, 31, dies in Canada pile-up that baby son Charlie survived
- Alexandra Paul was in the car with her baby boy, Charlie driving along Country Road 124 around 3pm on Tuesday when the deadly crash occurred
- Ontario Provincial Police said that the tractor trailer entered the construction zone and failed to slow down colliding with seven vehicles
- Paul was pronounced dead at the scene, her son was airlifted to a children's hospital and suffered from non-life-threatening injuries
An Olympic figure skater was killed after an out-of-control truck slammed into her car - but her baby son who was also in the vehicle at the time survived.
Alexandra Paul, 31, was waiting in a line of traffic with her son, Charlie, on Tuesday during construction work on a road just outside Melancthon, Ontario, when a tractor trailer drove into the construction zone and slammed into the parked cars, killing her.
Ontario Provincial Police said that the truck failed to slow down and collided with seven vehicles that were on the road.
[perform-sport]Paul was pronounced dead at the scene.
She competed in a duos segment of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, alongside Mitchell Islam, with the couple coming eighteenth. Afterwards, Paul trained as a lawyer.
Her partnership with Islam was also a romantic one, with the couple marrying in September 2021 and welcoming baby Charlie shortly after.
Alexandra Paul, 31 and her husband and former skating partner, Mitchell Islam and baby boy are pictured in a family photo died on Tuesday afternoon in a deadly crash
Charlie, who was in the backseat at the time of the smash, was transported to a children's hospital and was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Three others were injured including, a 45-year-old woman and a 28-year-old man, who were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
A 67-year-old man, who had to be extricated from his vehicle by emergency responders, was airlifted to a Toronto-area trauma center with serious injuries, Canadian Press[2] reported.
After the crash, County Road 124 was closed for nearly 10 hours so police could investigate. No charges have been filed against the driver of the truck, who has not been named.
The couple are pictured competing in the Figure Skating Ice Dance Short Dance on day 9 of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Socchi, Russia
The accident happened on Country Road 124 around 3pm on Tuesday in the Township of Melancthon, Ontario. Officials said the tractor trailer entered the construction zone and slammed into the line up of vehicles waiting on the roadway
Paul competed in the 2014 Olympic games alongside her skating partner, Mitchell Islam.
The pair teamed up in 2009 and won the junior ice dance title at the Canadian national championships. A year later, they brought home a silver medal at the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships.
Paul and Islam went on to win the bronze at the national championships in 2011, 2014 and 2015 during their senior career, according to Skate Canada.
They also won medals four times at international competitions, including bronze at the 2016 U.S. Classic International.
Paul went on to pursue her studies and got her law degree. She was working as an associate lawyer at Barriston Law at the time of her death.
The couple were partners on the ice and in life
The news of Paul's untimely death was devastating to the skating community.
On Friday, Skate Canada issued a statement remembering Paul as a 'shining star on and off the ice whose dedication, passion and talents left a mark on the figure skating world.'
'Her commitment to excellence was matched only by her warmth and kindness, which endeared her to fellow athletes, coaches, and fans alike,' the statement read.
'As we remember Alexandra's contributions to the sport, we also reflect on the camaraderie and sportsmanship she exemplified. She was not only an accomplished athlete but also a true role model for aspiring skaters, demonstrating the values of resilience, perseverance, and sportsmanlike conduct.'
The law firm was equally shocked by her passing. They told CTV News that the young lawyer was 'kind, curious person with a joyful personality and intense passion for her work and family.'
'Alex came to us initially as a summer student, then articled with us, and then practiced with us as a young lawyer after her call to the Bar in 2021,' Joanne McPhail, a managing partner with the firm, said in a statement/
'She was a valued member of our team and a close friend to many of us. She attended our firm golf tournament just last week and was full of excitement about her future, as were we.'
A GoFundMe set up to help Islam through the 'daunting reality of raising Charlie as a widowed father.' It has raised $146,000 as-of Saturday morning.
The fundraiser says: 'As a Canadian success story is tragically cut short, Alex will be remembered as a passionate, determined young lady who could illuminate any room she entered.
'She was not only kind, educated, witty, and resolute, but Alex was also a staple in the international Figure Skating community representing Canada at the Olympics. But above all, Alex will be remembered as a loving daughter, sister, wife, and mother to Charlie.'
References
- ^ Ruth Bashinsky For Dailymail.Com (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Canadian Press (www.cp24.com)