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Advertisement Two young men killed when a pickup truck fell more than 100 metres over a steep embankment near Ghost River were riding in the box of the vehicle when it crashed, according to RCMP.

Officials continue to investigate the weekend collision near the Ghost Reservoir Provincial Recreation Area that killed two men in their 20s and left a 19-year-old with extensive leg injuries after he freed himself from the wreck and spent several hours climbing the steep hill in freezing temperatures in search of help.

The men have been identified by friends as Nathan Wack and Jordan Fish. Tributes have been pouring in on social media for the pair, who are being remembered as fun-loving and full of laughter.

Wack, who was apprenticing at Marlborough Ford, would have started auto mechanics classes at SAIT Monday morning. Fish ran cross-country for the school.

The boys and the driver, Logan Toews, all childhood friends, were out camping on familiar stomping grounds the day of the crash, on the last weekend of winter break.

“There’s really no words that can describe the pain and sorrow for burying your own kid; it’s unbearable,” said Tim Leshchyshyn, Wack’s father. “He had a good sense of humour and a sharp sense of wit.”

And he loved the outdoors, like the other young men with him.

Toews, 19, had lost his mother to cancer in November, Leshchyshyn said, “and now he’s lost two brothers.”

On Monday, Cochrane RCMP Cpl. Brad White said investigators determined three friends were camping less than a kilometre from the crash site when they decided to drive to a nearby lookout on a cliff area around 11 p.m. to midnight on Saturday.

For an unknown reason, the vehicle didn’t stop and instead it slid down a hill, went off a steep embankment, and was airborne before landing near a frozen river bed, more than 120 metres below.

“The (two victims) were in the box of the truck when it went down the hill,” White said.

“(They) died on impact.”

Toews told first responders he attempted CPR on his two friends before he spent several hours climbing the embankment in search of help.

He was able to flag down a passerby who called 911 and around 4:30 a.m. Sunday emergency officials were dispatched to the area, which is on Township Road 265B approximately 4 km from Highway 40.

The lone survivor was transported by STARS air ambulance to a Calgary hospital with leg injuries consistent with mild frostbite and hypothermia, according to EMS.

Leshchyshyn said blood tests have indicated Toews was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.

“We want to rally around Logan,” he said.

On Monday, Toews posted a short statement on Facebook about the collision.

“I would like to thank everyone for the condolences and best wishes, it’s a real tragedy and I will never stop thinking of my two friends,” Toews wrote. “I can’t begin to feel for their families but I would like them to know how sorry I am this happened.”

“Those two boys were like brothers to me and that will never change. RIP Jodan and Nathan.”

White said investigators have interviewed the Toews but further investigation will involve another interview with him, as well as a vehicle mechanical inspection.

RCMP are continuing to investigate the factors involved in the collision.

The pickup truck was recovered on Sunday afternoon.

Fish’s funeral service is scheduled for Jan. 10 at 10:30 a.m. at Chapel of the Bells, McInnis & Holloway Funeral Home. Wack’s service is set for Jan. 18 at 2 p.m. at the same location. All are welcome.



– with files from Erika Stark and Reid Southwick Advertisement