Council to hear from Nicky Ouellette

Nicky Ouellette says she has to live with a nagging question everyday: what would have happened had Highway 11 been completed four years ago instead of four years from now.

Ouellette’s husband Gerry and her four stepchildren Kevin, 9, Stephen,13, Tracey, 16, and Scott, 17, were killed Nov. 30 on Hwy 11 just north of South River.

The vehicle he was driving went out of control and was struck by a tractor-trailer traveling southbound.

Snowfall was heavy at the time of the accident and road conditions slippery, Ontario Provincial Police said at the time.

“Had finishing four-laning not been put on hold or done faster, there would have been a totally different outcome that day,” Ouellette told BayToday.ca Saturday.

“My family would still be alive.”

Weren't the only ones
She’ll be making that same point Monday night during a public presentation to North Bay city council.

“Five people who were precious to me died probably within a two-second span, but they weren’t the only ones,” Ouellette said.

“It’s just been death upon death on that highway.”

Ouellette wants answers to written questions she’ll be asking council, then she’ll decide what her next move will be.

Going to hear from me
Ouellette said she made up her mind to take action on Highway 11 four-laning in January, around the same time she held a news conference to thank the community for its support.

“It was a thought of mine,” Ouellette said then, “that when all of this was said and done, they’re going to hear from me.”

”My name didn’t have clout before, “but let me tell you it has clout now.”

“And that four-laning, if I have anything to do with it, will be finished, because I’m not losing anybody else on that highway. Five is enough. Five is too many.”

In the limelight
Despite trying to rebuild her life Ouellette said she remains in the limelight, “and I don’t want it.”

Every day, she said, well-meaning people come into her store to express their sympathies and ask about the accident.

“I’ve become ‘that mother who lost four children’ and I’ve just been living and breathing this ever since,” Ouellette said.

Could never leave
While the memories of her family surround her in the house, Ouellette said she’ll continue living there.

“This is still our home, where the kids lived, where all their personal stuff still is,” Ouellette said.

“We spent so much time together here and were a big family unit. So I could never leave.”

Nipissing MPP Monique Smith said last month her government will adhere to the construction timetable for Hwy 11 four-laning put in motion by the Tories.