A man is charged with two counts of careless driving causing death in a crash that killed two sisters who were trying to rescue a turtle.

A 24-year-old man from Raleigh Township was charged last week in the May 18 crash, Chatham-Kent police said in a release Tuesday.

The man, whose identity wasn’t released, is scheduled to appear in provincial offences court Dec. 17.

The two sisters, Teresa Suliga of Blenheim and Elizabeth Seremak of Cambridge, were known for their love of animals.

The sisters aged 66 and 68 were struck and killed by a vehicle while walking along Charing Cross Road near Horton Line, police said.

The rural community is about 10 minutes south of Chatham.

Suliga’s neighbour, Shelley Webster, has said when she heard her close friend was trying to rescue a turtle when she died, “I thought, ‘That’s just like Teresa.’ ”

If Suliga saw any “animal in distress, she was there right away, quick,” Webster said.

Suliga and her dog Kaya often would go for walks and Suliga loved to see the deer, rabbits and even coyotes, Webster said.

“Teresa’s greatest love was her family and taking care of animals,” Suliga’s obituary said.

Webster said Seremak often visited her sister in Blenheim.

“They were like best friends . . . the two of them were like two peas on a pod,” Webster said. “They were very close.”

Suliga also loved to experience new things, travel and garden, her obituary said.

“Elizabeth was known for her generous heart and helping spirit,” Seremak’s obituary said. “She loved to spend time with her family and especially her treasured grandchildren.”

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