Regina mother, daycare worker killed in alleged impaired driving collision

Friends and family are grieving the loss of Daphne Schmidt, who was killed in an alleged impaired driving collision near Southey, Sask., on Saturday.

Schmidt, 40, was a child-care worker at Kids First daycare in Regina, which was closed on Monday as a result of her death.

She was a mother of two, and looking forward to becoming a grandmother this spring, according to friends.

A man is facing a string of impaired driving charges in the wake of that collision.

Wade Michael Ganje, 34, of Weyburn, Sask., has been charged with impaired driving causing death, impaired operation over .08 causing death, impaired operation causing bodily harm and impaired operation over .08 causing bodily harm.

Police say Ganje's truck was travelling northbound on Highway 6 when it collided with a southbound car, killing Schmidt and injuring three others. The deceased woman was a passenger in the car.

The car's driver and two other passengers were transferred to Regina General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Ganje, who was the sole occupant of the truck, was treated at the scene.

He has also been charged with dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing bodily harm and failing to stop.

He appeared in provincial court in Regina on Monday morning. His next appearance is scheduled for Wednesday at 2 p.m. CST.

A GoFundMe fundraising page has been set up by a friend of Schmidt's to help the family with expenses.