CORNWALL/SD&G – Community support is flooding towards a mourning North Stormont family after a fatal single-vehicle crash near Avonmore.
A GoFundMe campaign has been organized in memory of Justin Lascelle.
SD&G OPP say the 34-year-old died after his southbound 2012 Toyota left the roadway on County Road 15 (otherwise known as Avonmore Road) near Avonmore, Ont., at about 7a.m. on Friday (March 4), and struck several trees and rolled over.
Lascelle, of North Stormont, was pronounced dead at the scene.
He leaves behind a wife, Amanda, two young boys, and a newborn girl.
Provincial police and Technical Traffic Collision Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the accident.
“They were a young couple and they recently purchased their first house to raise their beautiful growing family in,” said the GoFundMe page. “Justin was the one who made the income to support the family and Amanda works only part time but would be taking time off since she has just given birth to their baby girl. Amanda will need the community’s help to continue to pay for housing, clothing and food for her children. Any amount would be useful so even donating a little bit would be a huge help! Thank you <3.”
The GoFundMe campaign has already been shared 3,500 times on social media, raising $26,095 of its new $30,000 goal.
“I wanted to help her anyway I can as she is a great friend,” Kerry McRae, the organizer of the crowdfunding campaign, wrote in an e-mail interview with Seaway News. “Amanda is overwhelmed by the love and support from the community and is really appreciative of their generosity.”
Cornwall’s Rachel Theoret reached out to Seaway News on behalf of her longtime best-friend to discuss the online fundraiser.
“It’s so kind to see how a community comes together in tragedy,” said Theoret. “The generosity of the GoFundMe page is overwhelming, and it shows such compassion. On behalf of the Lascelle and Heuston families, we thank everyone.”
Funeral services for Justin will be held March 8-9 at Lahaie and Sullivan Cornwall Funeral Home at 614 First Street East. Visitation from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., with the service at 11 a.m.
For more information, visit www.gofundme.com/justinlascelle.
