Mother of two died in hit and run; funds being raised to help her children
almost 5 years in timescolonist
A 35-year-old Ladysmith mother of two has been identified as the victim of a hit-and-run collision Saturday near Ladysmith.
Katie Blogg was killed when a pickup truck crossed the centre median and hit her vehicle as she was headed north on the Trans-Canada Highway by Oyster-Stolo Road.
A campaign has been launched to raise money for the education of her children, Harrison and Grace, and for a memorial for Blogg, who is also survived by her husband, Trevor.
The pickup driver fled the scene in what was believed to be a stolen vehicle. He has since been in contact with police, but has yet to turn himself in.
“Several members of our community have expressed a desire to support this family,” the fundraising page says. “At Trevor’s request this GoFundMe has been created to centralize any support you wish to provide.”
The fundraiser, which had a $30,000 goal, had raised close to $86,000 by Tuesday afternoon.
When he spoke to the Times Colonist on Tuesday, Ladysmith Mayor Aaron Stone said he had just returned from visiting friends of the Bloggs to drop off gifts that had been left at city hall for the family.
The crash has been hard on Ladysmith councillors and many others in the community, he said.
“Most of us on council, five of the seven of us, all have young kids and it’s really kind of raw and real for everybody, and obviously really emotional.”
Stone didn’t know Blogg personally, but said he has heard great things about her.
“By all accounts, she was a wonderful woman and kind,” he said. “Everyone I’ve talked to has said she’s an amazing, sweet woman and it’s so tragic.”
He said his wife discovered a previously unknown link with Blogg. “My wife has got this mug she loves and she just found out today that it was made by her, by Katie,” Stone said. “It’s a small town, so everybody’s connected. It’s two degrees of separation, it seems like.”
Cpl. Mike Halskov of B.C. RCMP Traffic Services said the suspect is being urged to surrender to the RCMP detachment nearest to him.
“We are, in the interim, continuing to work around the clock on this file, interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence,” he said. “As well, we are using all legal means at our disposal to locate the driver and take him into custody, as safely as possible and as soon as possible.”
Halskov said police believe the suspect has told others about his involvement in the crash, so they would like to hear from them at the nearest RCMP detachment or through CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
jwbell@timescolonist.com
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