Latest news with #Supena
CBC
04-05-2025
- CBC
Wife of Manitoba motorcyclist killed in Highway 9 crash will 'always be an advocate' for road safety
Social Sharing A week after a 30-year-old man was killed while riding his motorcycle on Highway 9, riders from across Manitoba marked the start of Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month at a rally outside the Legislative building in Winnipeg on Saturday. Winston Supena, a father of two young children, was killed on April 26 when his motorcycle collided with a three-ton truck at Highway 9 and Mitchell Bay, in the rural municipality of St. Andrews, about 25 kilometres north of Winnipeg. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The 67-year-old truck driver had his licence suspended and police said alcohol is believed to have been a factor in the crash. RCMP said their investigation into the crash is ongoing. "On behalf of the government, I am so sorry for your loss," Waverley MLA David Pankratz said, addressing members of Supena's family, who were in the crowd at the safety month rally on Saturday. As the weather gets warmer across the province, Coalition of Manitoba Motorcycle Groups president Peter McDonald warns both drivers and motorcyclists to stay alert and watch out for each other. "We're just trying to make for a safe riding season," McDonald said. Supena's widow, Mica Orcullo-Supena, told CBC that despite their grief, her family was at the rally to support a cause her late husband cared deeply about. "Being safe on the road and motor safety is an important thing for him, and for everyone. So we wanted to come support, especially during our mourning," Orcullo-Supena said. "It's an honour for him," she said. Widow will 'always be an advocate' for road safety Shortly after the rally, Orcullo-Supena joined dozens of loved ones at the St. Andrews crash site where her husband died for a vigil, organized by volunteers of the 204 Neighbourhood Watch community group. She told vigil-goers that her husband — who was well-loved for his passion and sense of humour — would have been happy to see the outpouring support the family has received since his passing. "Love, wherever you are, I hope you see and I hope you know how much people love you, and how much you made an impact on all of our lives," Orcullo-Supena she told the crowd at the vigil, voice wavering as she spoke into the microphone. "I hope you see that our community cares, your motorcycle friends and everyone are here for you," she said. Motorcycles roared as members of Manitoba's motorcycle community pulled up on the side of the road to pay their respects to Supena. One of his friends, Archie Bernardo, said Supena "felt like a brother," getting choked up while telling the crowd Supena got him into riding motorcycles and brought him into the community. "I know he's in a better place now, he's up there riding endless highways [with] weather that's always clear, with no worries," Bernardo said, encouraging other bikers to stay safe on the roads. "We all knew how much of a passion he had for riding and that's why I'd like to always be an advocate for safety on the roads," said Orcullo-Supena.
CBC
03-05-2025
- CBC
Wife of motorcyclist killed in Highway 9 crash speaks out against impaired driving
Mica Orcullo-Supena set up about a dozen chairs in the living room of her North Kildonan home on Friday afternoon, arranging them in rows to face a makeshift altar with framed pictures of her husband and some of his favourite foods. The 28-year-old has held a prayer vigil at her home each night since last Saturday when her husband, 30-year-old Winston Supena, was killed in a crash as he rode his motorcycle just north of Winnipeg. The nine days of prayers are part of a Filipino cultural practice intended to help a person's soul immediately after their death, she said. The crash happened on Highway 9 and Mitchell Bay, in the rural municipality of St. Andrews, around 4 p.m. last Saturday, RCMP previously said. Supena's motorcycle collided with a three-ton truck as the truck was trying to turn westward down Mitchell Bay, police said. Mica says police told her that the 67-year-old man who drove the truck admitted to officers that he'd reversed the truck in front of Supena's motorcycle as he made the turn down Mitchell Bay, before Supena crashed into his vehicle. Supena was pronounced dead at the crash site, RCMP said. Hours before the fatal crash, Mica says she'd had brunch with her husband and their four-year-old daughter in Winnipeg, after he finished an early shift at his job as a health-care aide with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. Supena left the restaurant early to meet up with his motorcycle buddies while his daughter finished eating, she says. "And that was the last time we saw him." 'My life shattered' Police said on Monday the truck driver's licence was suspended under The Highway Traffic Act. They believe alcohol was a factor in this collision, but no charges have been laid. RCMP say their investigation into the crash is ongoing. "We're devastated. We lost the one we love, for what? A bottle of alcohol?" Mica said. "That decision changed not only his [life], but all of our lives." Mica, who works as a massage therapist, said she was in a session with a family member when someone messaged her to call one of her husband's motorcycle buddies, who told her that Supena had been in an accident and was receiving CPR from paramedics. "I think, at that time, my life shattered," she said. 'My life shattered,' says widow of motorcyclist killed in Manitoba highway crash 2 hours ago Duration 1:51 The widow of a motorcyclist who died in a highway crash in St. Andrews is speaking out. Winston Supena, 30, was riding on Highway 9 last Saturday when he collided with a three-ton truck in the RM of St. Andrews. He was pronounced dead at the scene. RCMP say the truck driver had his licence suspended and believe alcohol is a factor. She called Supena's friend again shortly after, as she got stuck in traffic while rushing to the crash site from south Winnipeg, and had the friend ask paramedics whether a helicopter was coming to take her husband to the hospital. "A couple seconds later, you hear something in his voice, and his friend says … 'they're putting a white cloth on Winston,'" she said. "I'm not stupid. I know what a white cloth means." She never made it to the crash site, and went to her parents' home instead. "I just broke down. I think I cried the rest of the day," she said. "I still cry every day, because he's no longer coming home. My kids no longer have their dad." 'Using Winston's story as the lesson' The couple married less than two years ago, after spending a decade together, Mica said. She remembers him as an avid motorcycle enthusiast who would "help anybody in a heartbeat." "That's why he's a health-care aide. It's his passion to help people," she said. Their two young children — a seven-year-old son and four-year-old daughter — understand that their father was in an accident with his motorcycle, but they're too young to understand that he's not coming home again. Mica wants her husband's death to serve as a reminder to drivers that they should keep an eye out for two-wheeled vehicles on the road. She says a vigil will be held at the crash site on Saturday, a day which comes during Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. She hopes both events will help people remember Supena's legacy, which she says was filled with kindness, warmth, and a love for motorcycles. "We're using Winston's story as the lesson, but he would have wanted to be able to make a difference, and this is how I'm going to help my husband do that, for his memory to live on," she said.
Winnipeg Free Press
30-04-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Truck driver believed to have been impaired in crash that killed father, husband on new motorcycle
A 30-year-old Winnipeg man killed in a weekend crash north of the city is being remembered as a loving father, devoted husband and a warm presence in the local motorcycle community. Winston Supena died Saturday afternoon when his motorcycle — affectionately nicknamed 'Silver' — collided with a three-ton truck at the intersection of Highway 9 and Mitchell Bay in the RM of St. Andrews. He was pronounced dead at the scene. RCMP say Supena had been travelling southbound on Highway 9 when the truck turned west onto Mitchell Bay, crossing into his path. Investigators believe alcohol was a factor in the crash, though no charges had been laid as of Wednesday. The 67-year-old truck driver's licence has been suspended under the Highway Traffic Act. SUPPLIED Winston Supena with son Warren, daughter Mina, and wife Mica. The crash ended what had started as an ordinary day — one that included Supena's early morning shift as a health-care aide, followed by brunch with his wife, Mica, and two young children — six-year-old Warren and four-year-old Mina — at a Salisbury House on Henderson Highway before meeting up with his biker buddies. 'That was the last time we saw him,' Mica said Wednesday. She was at work in south Winnipeg later in the day when friends reached out, urging her to call one of Supena's riding friends who was at the scene. She was told emergency crews were performing CPR on her husband, and STARS Air Ambulance had been dispatched. She didn't get there in time. 'The friend's voice cracked, and he told me they were putting a white cloth over Winston,' she said. 'I feel like I died in the car because I couldn't do anything. I was stuck in traffic.' A close friend of Supena's says he's still struggling to come to terms with the crash that claimed the life of one of his closest friends, describing him as someone who would 'always have your back.' Rafael Bactol said Wednesday that he and Supena shared a deep friendship that grew even stronger over their shared love of motorcycles. 'We would bond over everything,' Bactol said. 'I got him into riding (motorcycles) last year. I was really happy. And I went with him to buy his first motorcycle.' That first bike was eventually sold, Bactol said, and just days before Saturday's fatal crash, Supena had purchased a new bike, travelling to B.C. with friends to bring it back to Winnipeg. 'It was his new baby,' Bactol said. On the morning of the crash, Bactol received a message from Supena asking if he wanted to go out riding. 'I ignored the text because I was bringing my bike to the shop to get it fixed,' he said. 'It's just hard. I'm still processing it all.' Bactol said the crash should never have happened. He emphasized the dangers of impaired driving and the needless risks it creates for others on the road. Supena's wife echoed that message. 'He shouldn't have been driving at all if he had been drinking… it's a common-sense thing we learn throughout our lives,' she said. 'And his poor decision cost my children their father. My kids are too young. SCOTT BILLECK / FREE PRESS A memorial for Winston Supena sits near the intersection of Highway 9 and Mitchell Bay in the RM of St. Andrews, where he died Saturday afternoon when his motorcycle collided with a three-ton truck. 'I'm just an independent contractor. I don't work full time. I don't have benefits. My husband worked hard, two jobs, to provide that for us. Now, I don't know what to do.' A neighbour who lives near the intersection and saw the crash site while returning home, said the truck driver resides in the area. 'We saw the motorcycle on the road and then just a big tarp,' said the neighbour, who asked not to be identified. Another neighbour noted the area is known for speeding vehicles, although RCMP did not say speed was a factor in the crash. 'It's just a bad situation,' the neighbour said. Douglas Houghton, director of the Coalition of Manitoba Motorcycle Groups, said drivers need to remember that it's spring and motorcycles are back on the road. During Elections Get campaign news, insight, analysis and commentary delivered to your inbox during Canada's 2025 election. 'That's one of the common causes of an accident… a vehicle making a left-hand turn in front of you,' Houghton said. May will be announced as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month by the province Saturday. Houghton is leading a safety awareness rally at the Manitoba Legislative Building. Also Saturday, the local Filipino community, through the 55,000-plus member 204 Filipino forum on Facebook, is planning a prayer vigil at the crash site from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Meanwhile, members of the MotoBro63 riding group — Supena was a member — have launched a GoFundMe campaign to support his family. Scott BilleckReporter Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade's worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024. Read more about Scott. Every piece of reporting Scott produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
