Officials said that a 31-year old Canadian Olympic figure skater died in a collision involving multiple cars last week. Her infant son was also injured as were three other adults.
Skate Canada confirmed to NBC News that Alexandra Paul was killed by a collision involving seven cars on August 22 in Melancthon. The township is located in rural Ontario.
According to a police news release, the collision happened just after 3 pm local time on Tuesday when a tractor-trailer crashed into the back of several vehicles parked in a construction area on the road.
According to the Ontario Provincial Police who initially mistook her age for 32, Paul was declared dead on the spot.
According to the police, emergency medical personnel transported Paul’s baby boy to a hospital. The injuries were not life-threatening. According to the baby’s obituary was born in October.
Her obituary states that “motherhood was her greatest joy.” “She embraced motherhood with all her love and passion.”
According to the police, the collision that killed Paul left two other people with injuries. A 67-year old man suffered serious injuries. Police also reported injuries inflicted on a woman aged 45 and a man aged 28. The current condition of the victims was not available on Monday.
According to a spokesperson of the Ontario Provincial Police who also added that the police are still searching for witnesses, no charges have yet been filed.
According to the Canadian Olympic Committee , Paul and Islam started skating together in 2009. They won a Silver medal at the World Junior Championships a year later.
According to Skate Canada, they won three medals together at the Canadian Championships and competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reports that Paul retired from competitive ice skating in 2016.
According to Paul’s obituary she earned her law degree from the University of Windsor, and then began working for Barriston Law, in Barrie, Ontario, where she lived at the time of death.
According to a memorial posted on the website , Paul joined the firm in 2019 as a student and passed the bar two years later.
The firm stated that Alex was a valued member of its team. She balanced her calm, joyful personality with a passion for her job. We will miss her kindness and curiosity. She was driven by her passion. And she had a beautiful smile.
Skate Canada paid tribute to Paul on Instagram, calling her a “cherished member of our skating communities” and a “shining star both on and off the ice”.
The statement stated that “Her warmth and kindness were only matched by her commitment to excellence, which made her a favorite amongst fellow athletes, coaches and fans.”
As we recall Alexandra’s contributions, we also reflect upon the camaraderie she demonstrated and the sportsmanship that she displayed,” the statement continued. “She was a role model not only for young skaters but also an accomplished athlete, as she demonstrated the values of perseverance, resilience and sportsmanlike behavior.”
According to her obituary, Paul’s parents and two siblings also survive her, in addition to her son and husband.
It states: “This is a huge loss for those of us who were lucky enough to love, raise, or live with her. We were fortunate to have been a part of her life, which was all too brief.
