A mother of five who was killed in a five-vehicle traffic accident this month near Port Dover, Ont., has had a GoFundMe page set up by her sister to help the family cover funeral costs, and to assist the woman’s partner, who was injured in the same crash.
As of Monday afternoon, the GoFundMe campaign set up for Tiffany Barrer and her partner, Eric Rainville, by her sister Meaghan Landry was more than three quarters of the way to its $30,000 goal.
And in the latest twist in the tragedy, a man facing attempted murder charges after attacking a bystander with a knife has refused to appear at a virtual bail hearing.
Brandon James Moore, 40, of Port Dover is facing at least five charges after the accident, which occurred on Highway 6 near that small town on the shore of Lake Erie on Sept. 14.
The collision involved three motorcycles, a pickup truck and an SUV. Barrer, a 31-year-old mother of five, was a passenger on one of the motorcycles, and died in the crash. Rainville, Barrer’s partner and the driver of one of the other bikes, was also seriously injured and remains in serious condition, according to Landry on her GoFundMe page. Police say another biker suffered minor injuries in the crash.
Police also allege that after the collision, Moore stabbed a bystander with a knife, sending that man to hospital with serious injuries. The London Free Press referred to the attack as part of a “bizarre melee” after the accident.
Moore was to appear in a Simcoe court virtually on Friday afternoon but refused to come to the video room, the Sudbury Star reported. Assistant Crown attorney Ian Maedel told a Justice of the Peace that Moore had also refused to participate in a hearing last Tuesday.
Moore faces charges of attempted murder, dangerous driving, dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing bodily harm, and possession of a weapon.
According to the Toronto Sun, Norfolk OPP originally said three publication bans prohibited releasing any information that could identify the complainants, witnesses and accused, but court records showed only two bans.
The paper said one of them was lifted Friday by Maedel, who also asked a Justice of the Peace to rescind a ban that had been placed that would cover the identity of Barrer. He added that he didn’t believe a third ban had ever been placed.
“Tiffany was an avid lover of the outdoors,” her obituary says. “She loved surrounding herself with family and friends (even better if out at camp or in the garage). She spent her down time on Dad’s boat, on Eric’s motorcycle, baking the best cakes, or planning their next crash derby. She was a devoted mother, and the first one to help anyone in need. The world will be at a loss without her in it.”
A celebration of life for Barrer is set for Sept. 27 in Coniston, a former town now part of Greater Sudbury.
The accident occurred the day after Friday, Sept. 13. Port Dover is well known as a destination for motorcyclist enthusiasts, who come to the town in large numbers every Friday the 13th.
The National Post has reached out to Landry for more information on the GoFundMe campaign.
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