Man killed in snowmobile crash on river

Posted Jan 26, 2012 By Theresa Fritz and Derek Dunn

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EMC News - A winter pastime turned deadly for a West Carleton resident last weekend, leaving friends and family mourning a man with a zest for life.

After a day of ice fishing on the Ottawa River near MacLaren's Landing where he grew up and lived, Joe Leafloor, 31, and some friends headed out for a ride along the river bank near Quyon, Quebec. It was dark and Leafloor was leading the way when he crashed his snowmobile. His fellow riders found him unconscious.

MRC des Collines, the police service which covers the Pontiac region as well as other areas in western Quebec, reported Leafloor was attempting a u-turn and crashed into some trees around 9:30 p.m. He was pronounced dead some time later in hospital in Shawville. The investigation is continuing and post-mortem results are not expected for several days.

Friends at Leafloor's side during his remaining moments included Brett Hamilton, Paul Basile, Chris and Shelly Costello, and Shelly's fiancee Jeff Instead. The Costellos were as calm as they could be under the circumstances, and since Chris is well-trained in CPR he managed to keep Leafloor alive for about 45 minutes until the rescue crew arrived.

Hamilton worked the cellphone to contact 911, but the feeling that they were in the darkness, far from anywhere, weighed heavy.

"He still had a pulse. You just felt helpless out on the river," Hamilton said. "Chris was doing CPR. We did everything we could for him. And he still had a pulse when police came. Then the pulse faded."

Hamilton said his close friend since childhood had five or six different groups of friends, and that people are flying in from all parts of North America and beyond to be near the family this week.

Leafloor's parents, Tom and Dianne, were on their way to Florida when the tragedy occurred and were making the grim trip home as of press time. His brother, Derek, is flying in from Thailand this week.

"I must have answered 40 emails in the last couple of days, and the phone won't stop ringing off the hook. People want to know what happened," Hamilton said. "He was a good guy and a big, big loss."

Leafloor enjoyed the outdoors and the big boy toys often associated with a rural lifestyle. His new snowmobile was among the fastest on the market, he rode a Seadoo, liked fishing, was in excellent shape and was an accomplished soccer player in his youth. He liked playing with kids, and was also popular.

"The kids called him 'Uncle Joe,'" he said.

Hamilton can't bear to look at the ice shack they built together, let alone return to fish and watch hockey like they often did with other friends on their Tuesday night outings.

He remains shocked and upset, as are all friends and family in the hamlet along the Ottawa River, but he said Leafloor should have heeded the advice of many who told him to keep safety in mind.

"He was the most happy-go-lucky, positive, friendly guys. He wouldn't sit tight," Hamilton said. "He was told many times to be very careful about the snowmobile. But he liked to go fast. A lot of people do. I've had five friends die over the years. Only certain ones listen."

Hamilton, a father, said when a man knows he has other people depending on him, his life changes. Leafloor hadn't reached the stage where you slow down and second guess decisions. He had recently started a business, bought a company truck, a new car and a home next to one of his best friends, but was still enjoying life to the fullest.

"Sometimes we don't make the best decisions," Hamilton said. "Some things we regret, and can't take back."

Hamilton is upset with 911 dispatchers on the Quebec side who spoke little English and even hung up on him twice when he asked for a helicopter. He intends to write both West Carleton-March Coun. Eli El-Chantiry and Carleton-Mississippi Mills MPP Jack MacLaren, who also lives in MacLaren's Landing.

FOND MEMORIES

To those who knew him well, Leafloor's death has been hard to process. He is remembered as a great athlete, friend with a love for life.

"The man never stopped smiling. He was a joy to be around," said Sandy Byrne on the phone from Florida, where she and her husband Glen are spending the winter. "He really had a zest for life."

The Byrnes and the Leafloors live on the same street in MacLaren's Landing, part of a cluster of families there who are very close. Their children grew up together and over the years, they have all been big parts of each other's lives.

Sandy Byrne said the first thing that came to mind when she heard of Leafloor's death was the special time both families shared this past Christmas.

"After many years of not being able to get together, we all had Christmas together," she recalled. "We had a marvelous Christmas with Joey."

She said he commented what a wonderful opportunity it was to spend Christmas with the Byrne family -which also included Glen and Sandy's new grandson.

For El-Chantiry, who lived in Constance Bay for many years and is the former owner of The Lighthouse Restaurant, the news came as a shock. He said he remembers Leafloor and Hamilton as young boys.

"They grew up there and they were around The Lighthouse," said El-Chantiry, who said Joe's father Tom was a big supporter of his politically and was a big help during his first election campaign back in 2003.

"My heart goes out to Tom and Dianne. They are solid people in MacLaren's Landing," he added. "This is a parent's worst nightmare. I don't with that on any parent."

The city councilor, an avid snowmobiler himself, said "riding at night can be a challenge" for even the most experience rider.

"Those machines can be very powerful," El-Chantiry cautioned. "The best advice I can give to anyone is slow down and don't drink and drive."

Leafloor's parents are planning a celebration of their son's life Saturday, Feb. 4 at the Kinburn Community Centre at 7 pm.







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