The elderly pedestrian killed after being struck by debris from a two-vehicle collision in Greater Sudbury’s downtown July 31 was a member of the city’s Ukrainian community who lived in the nearby Ukrainian Senior Citizens Complex, Sudbury.com has learned.
Multiple members of the city’s Ukrainian community have confirmed that the woman who died was Helen Woloschyn, who was 92 years old, although we’re told she was about to celebrate her 93rd birthday.
Since this article's initial publication, obituary information for Mrs. Woloschyn has been released. A funeral mass will take place Aug. 8 at St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church.
The Ukrainian Senior Citizens Complex, the adjoining Ukrainian Seniors Centre and St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church are located close to the intersection of Lloyd and Paris streets, where the crash occurred.
Michael Gawalko, also a resident of the Ukrainian housing complex as well as a fellow parishioner at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, said the elderly members of the community who knew Woloschyn well have been impacted by the tragedy.
“You know, the way it happened, you don't have a chance to say goodbye,” he said, adding he’s known Mrs. Woloschyn for many years, although he’s gotten to know her better in recent years since they’ve become neighbours.
He said Mrs. Woloschyn was married, but her husband, who was named Peter, passed away in 2020. The couple did not have children, Gawalko said. In her earlier life, Helen was a bookkeeper for a local lawyer, while Peter worked for Inco.
Gawalko said Mrs. Woloschyn would have ordinarily been making cabbage rolls with other members of the community on Wednesday morning, but the truck with the cabbage was delayed last week, so she ended up being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
He said the woman still drove, but also likes to walk, and speculates she may have been going to the bank.
“She always used to say, ‘When it’s your time, it’s your time,’” Gawalko said.
Greater Sudbury Police said in a press release that shortly after 9:45 a.m. July 31, officers were dispatched to a serious collision involving a pedestrian at the intersection of Lloyd Street at Paris Street.
Two vehicles were involved in a collision, causing debris from one of the vehicles to strike a 92-year-old woman on the sidewalk.
Community members in the area immediately began life saving measures and called emergency services.
Greater Sudbury Paramedic Services transported the pedestrian to the hospital, but she was unfortunately pronounced deceased by medical professionals.
Witnesses on scene told Sudbury.com that a truck seems to have collided with a car travelling up the hill leading to The Kingsway. The front left corner of the car is badly damaged and witnesses said the driver was taken away in an ambulance.
Witnesses also told Sudbury.com a senior woman was hit by a piece of flying debris from the collision and collapsed at the scene.
A bystander performed CPR while waiting for the ambulance to arrive. The woman was taken to hospital immediately, as confirmed by GSPS.
Members of the Traffic Management Unit are investigating the collision. The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone who witnessed the collision or who was driving in the area at the time of the collision with a dash camera is asked to contact police at 705-675-9171.
Heidi Ulrichsen is Sudbury.com’s assistant editor.