'This tragedy is just beyond belief': Separate crashes, 8 months apart, claim Edmonton parents

Two crashes, less than a year apart,on the same highway in Edmontonhave claimed the lives of a mother and a father, leaving behind their three young children.

"This tragedy is just beyond belief," Darlene Reid, a family friend, wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday.

"They died on same section of the Henday only a kilometre apart, at the same time in the morning, both in vehicle accidents and have left three darling babies behind as orphans."

Marc-Andre Helie, 36, died after hitting a deer while riding hismotorcycle on Anthony Henday Drive early June 9, friends have confirmed.

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Eight months earlier, at around the same time of dayand on the same highway, StephanieStuetz, 28, also died in a crash.

Stuetz, known as Steffi, collided head-on with another vehicle while she was driving north in the southbound lanes of Anthony Henday Drive in October 2017.

She was pronounced dead on scene. The driver of the other vehicle sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

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Theirthree children, a boy and two girls all younger than age 10, are staying with grandparents.

The family has asked forprivacy.

"The family requests that at this time our privacy be respected in the best interest of the children," said Stephanie's mother Deborah Stuezin a statement."This is a hard time for all of us, and with a second tragedy will forever impact all of our lives.We are blessed that we can continue to see a part of Marc-Andre and Stephanie continue to blossom and grow in their children."

Reid told CBCNews thefamily has declined an offer to have a fundraiser. Last year, Reid launched an online campaign followingStuetz'sdeath,raisingmore than $20,000 for her funeral and for trust funds for the children.

'An incredibly loving father'

Family friendIngrid Schifersaid Stuetz and Helie were like siblings to her. She found out about Helie's death Saturday morning.

"He was an incredibly loving father," Schifer told CBC News in a Facebook message.

"After Steffi died he wanted to make sure the children had strong female role models. He always thought of those children."

Helieis originally from a small town inQuebec, where his parents still live. His childhood friend Dany Laplante visited them Sundayafter finding out about Helie's death.

"The parents are devastated," Laplante said. "I saw the mom, and you can see her eyes were full of water. The dad is really quiet, calm, but you can feel it's doing something to him."

Laplanteand Helie grew up togetherand kept in touch on social media. The death of hislifelong friend hasn't fully sunk in.

"I was pretty much one of the closest friends he had," he said. "He was kind of a quiet guy, he was working hard all the time ... he was taking care of his family.

"How do you think the kids are going to be? It's hard to believe. But the thing is, at least they've got a good family. They're going to take care of it."

As of Monday, there were no public plans for a memorial or similar event forHelie.