Two families and their community of Melita are mourning the loss of two beautiful young people. Shayna Barnesky and Carter Tilbury died in the explosive tornado that hit the Scarth district in the RM of Pipestone just 16 kilometres south of Virden, last Friday night.
The pick-up truck the couple were in was sucked off of Hwy 83 by what has been described as an EF-2 tornado with wind speeds up to 190 kilometres per hour. The RCMP reported that Tilbury’s truck was found more than a kilometre from the highway. The two were found dead at the scene having been pulled from their vehicle by the tornado.
A 54-year-old man in another vehicle was also swept off the road. The man, from Sioux Valley Dakota First Nation, was airlifted by STARS to hospital and is reported to be recovering.
On social medial there has been an outpouring of grief and condolences for the loss of the two Melita teens. Many throughout southwest Manitoba have expressed their concern for the families, some sharing precious memories of both Carter and Shayna.
Shayna graduated this year and had planned to work before furthering her education. Carter was working for a machinery dealership in the area.
