Popular Port Alberni girl killed while playing chicken on highway
Cynthia Williams, a student from Port Alberni was killed in tragic crash.
Salim Jiwa
NANAIMO, B.C. – (Update) A tragic pedestrian accident has claimed the life of a 17-year-old Port Alberni girl who was playing chicken with oncoming vehicles on a busy Vancouver Island Highway and a group of school kids were mourning her death on Facebook.
Cynthia Bernice Williams was killed when she tried to cross Highway 19A near Mallard Drive in the company of a male. The male was found to be someone who had been ordered by the courts not to be in contact with her. Police said there were multiple reports she was playing chicken on the highway.
Friends from school were shaken by her death and one opened a Facebook page in her memory.
Simon Sylvester, a former school mate, said: ”Cynthia, was a real out going pretty girl, who liked everyone. She was always there for me when I had breakdowns in school.”
“We were friends, I hope to meet her again some day,” he said.
She went to Alberni District Secondary School, according to some friends on Facebook.
The accident occurred near the Nanoose First Nations lands at 7:30 p.m. on New Year’s Day.
She was struck by a Ford Ranger truck driven by a couple returning to their home in Parksville, said RCMP spokesman Const. Gary O’Brien.
“Williams and another male were apparently attempting to cross the Highway 19a from Capilano Road when she was struck,” he said.
“ Numerous 911 calls were received just prior to the accident of a male and female who from all accounts, were playing chicken with oncoming vehicles” said O’Brien.
“Williams was pronounced dead at the scene and the highway was closed for several hours. Traffic was backed up for 2 kilometers while Nanaimo RCMP, with the assistance of the Integrated Collision Analyst Reconstruction team(ICARS) investigated the accident,” he added.
“That portiion of the highway is divided into two north bound and two south bound lanes.The accident scene is also within twenty meters of a pedestrian overpass,” he said.
A 26-year-old man from Port Alberni who was believed to have been with Williams at the time of the accident, was located by police a short distance from the scene.
He was arrested for violating an order prohibiting him from having contact with Williams.
The driver of the Ford Ranger, 67, and his wife were not injured in the accident. They required support from victim services to cope with what happened.
Their vehicle was towed from the scene for mechanical inspection.
Anyone who saw Williams prior to the accident is asked to call to contact the Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477(TIPS).
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on Jan 2 2010. Filed under Featured.
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I don’t feel the least bit bad for her. Who I do feel bad for is the couple that hit her and everyone else who is hurt by her death due to her own stupidity. Imagine that poor couple and the guilt they have to live with for the rest of their life for her 2 seconds of fun.
to be honest guuys uu dont know the true story ! she wasnt that dumb she was angry ! he and her boyfriend got into a fight and she couldnt think straight! – - thats what i;ve been told by family anyways ; but yes i too feel sorry for the couple, cause uu knwo they never intended to kill a young girl like cynthia geesh show respect to both family & those two people . and tbh this is just so rude! cynthia’s family lost her .. the other couple didnt lose much yeah they may be traumitized but still shouldnt even be commenting about that just show respect ! !
“I’m angry that people aren’t more sympathetic. She was killed and taken from this earth too young. Our hearts go out to her family and hope that it doesn’t happen again”
No she was not. The earth is filled with people who DON’T make stupid choice, but die young anyways from diseases such as cancer – THOSE people are taken from this earth too young. People who take their health and life for granted do not deserve it.
She basically played with death. I also feel sorry for the couple who have to live with the image for the rest of their life. She not only has hurt those she loved by acting stupid and this being the consequence, but the people who hit her..imagine how affected they are by this!???? Seriously if youre going to play “chicken with cars” what do you think is going to happen? STUNNED. Im sorry but I can understand the lack of sympathy and my heart goes out more for the elderly couple than the person lacking common sense.
r,i,p cynthia ..had never hung out with her but talked to her online lots .will miss those convos.and my prayers go out to her family n friends .
such a tragic loss at such a young age !!~* R.I.P*~ <3 Cynthia Williams <3 prayers and condolences are with the Williams family and for Cynthias friends !!
@Simon Sylvester: People aren’t sympathetic because she was playing chicken on a highway. On the top 10 ways to be stupid and die, playing chicken on the highway is numbers 2-7.
If the story is correct, this is one of the most pointless deaths I’ve heard of in many a year. I feel sorry for the people in the vehicle who struck this girl.
I’m angry that people aren’t more sympathetic. She was killed and taken from this earth too young. Our hearts go out to her family and hope that it doesn’t happen again
REGARDLESS of if it was her fault or not , she was still a human being on this earth .Who had a life and was too young to die. she has family and friends that are goin to miss her ALOT!,So Sorry You had to go cynthia , you were an amazing person <3
I’m sure your friend Cynthia was a “kick ass chick” but I feel worse for the couple of senior citizens who now feel terribly for having killed her. It was her own fault she died and now they have to live with it. Awful.
she was my cousin, not much younger than me, grew up with her and her brothers….
she is greatly missed by the family. she was an awesome person, great friend, my love goes out to my uncle- cynthias father and her siblings i love you guys and im here for you… rest in peace lil cousin i luv u.?
We are very sad over your loss. Very tragic case.
Cynthia was a kick ass chick; she always had a way to make me smile Im missing her so much. I love that chick huggz to the family.
I didn’t know Cynthia really much but hearing about this really broke my heart, and i just wanna say R.I.P Cynthia and my thoughts and prayers go out to her Family.