Fort McMurray mourns pedestrians killed in collision

It was a double tragedy for Mirna Chehab.

In one evening, she lost the father of her children and the woman who was herbest friend.

Chehab's husband Hadi 'Dani' Eljamal and her best friend SanaElache were out for anevening walk in FortMcMurray when they were struck by a vehicle at around 8:30 p.m.on Sept. 6th.

Eljamal, 56, andElache,52, both died shortly thereafter.

A 48-year-old manhas been charged with two counts of dangerous driving causing death.

A lawyer appeared on his behalfbefore a Fort McMurray judge Wednesday morning.The matter was adjourned until Oct 18th.

• 2 pedestrians killed in Fort McMurray crash

"It's awful. I was in shock when this happened,"Chehabsaid.

"I do have days that I crash down. I would be driving and Icry."

Chehab wonders how she will raise their seven-year-old son and two teenagedaughters without their father.

Eljamal left his job as a graphic designer and came to Canada in 2005 from Lebanon, working in hotels, catering and as a consultant.

The couple had an interior design business together.

But Chehabsaid she will remember her husband as a person who always put himself last.

She said Eljamal loved to garden and loved his kids.

"He is a giving person. He wants to care about people. He looks after people before himself. That's who he was," she said.

'Full of joy and excitement'

Elache, a wife and mother, was a volunteer and mentor to many in Fort McMurray.She was president of the Multicultural Association of Wood Buffalo.

Coun.Tyran Aultsaid he wouldoften bump into Elache at events, including the multicultural association'slast pancake breakfast.

"As always, she was just smiling from ear to ear,so full of joy and excitement," Ault said. "You can just tell how much she enjoyed getting the community together for events, telling the story of how multicultural and diverse Fort McMurray really is."

Elachewas also one of the founders of Leadership Wood Buffalo, a non-profit that trains peopleto be better leaders in the public, private andnon-profit sectors.

Friend Russell Thomas remembers her gift for inspiringnew community leaders.

"I saw ripples of the impact that she has had that will continue to positively impact this community for years to come," Thomas said. "That's the kind of legacy she left;that Sana at some level will still be with us through the people she helped influence."

The Multicultural Association ofWood Buffalohas organized a memorial forElacheon Saturday, Sept. 23 at 1 p.m.

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