Vietnamese community mourns loss of Windsor couple killed in Lakeshore crash

A Windsor couple involved in a fatal Lakeshore crash leave behind five children, and a community reeling in the wake of the tragic incident that took away two of their most respected members.

Binh Doan-Than, 53, and his wife Ngoc Tran, 48, died when the vehicle they were collided head-on with a car which crossed the centre line on Sunday.

And on Wednesday, about 100 families that belong to the Ste. Phillippe and Anne Vietnamese Catholic Church in West Windsor gathered to pray the two beloved citizens.

The couple had just visited their parish on the day of the accident.

"We just talked to him [Binh] just a couple of hours before it happened," said Chien Nguyen, who has known Binh for 30 years and worked with him as well.

"They help everyone in the church when they need it," said Hoang Pham, parish council chairman.

The couple were travelling down County Road 42 when they collided with another vehicle.

The driver of that vehicle also died.

He was 46-year-old Mike Kelic of Lakeshore.

According to Kelic's obituary, he worked as a quality engineer at an auto parts factory in Lakeshore and had one daughter.

Doan owned a mold shop and spent several years as president of the parish community.

The parish pastor, Rev. Vincent Nguyen, remembers them as, "very good people."

"He [Binh] was always involved with the community," said Rev. Nguyen, adding that Ngoc worked hard preparing Vietnamese dishes for church functions.

"The community right now is still in shock," said Rev. Nguyen.

Pham said the parishioners will now reach out to offer support to the five young adult children who have been left without parents due to the tragedy.

Prayers will be held at the church, located on Partington Ave. Thursday night. Visitation is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday with a funeral service slated for next Wednesday.

The service for Kelic will be held Saturday at St. Francis of Assisi Croatian Catholic Church on Turner Road in Windsor.