Canadian family of 4 killed in car crash in Africa

A serious car crash in southern Africa has claimed the life of nine people, including a young family of four from Canada.

Melissa and Brendan Perrott, along with their two children, Evelyn and Colton, died in the tragic wreck near Bulembu, Swaziland on Sunday.

The Perrotts, who hail from Sherwood Park, Alta., were in Africa on a missionary trip, volunteering with Bulembu Ministries.

While Global Affairs Canada says it’s aware of the crash and confirmed the deaths, no more details have been provided.

However, Melissa’s father, Rod Rypstra, has told Edmonton media that the family was returning to Bulembu after taking an orphan to a mountain bike race.

"From what we understand, there was a vehicle trying to overtake another one on the highway at a high rate of speed,” Rypstra explained.

“When he went to go back into his lane, he clipped the vehicle in front of him, which spun his vehicle around, which in turn crashed into Brendan and Melissa travelling the other way.”

The vehicle was “unrecognizable.”

“There’s a huge hole in Bulembu now that they’re gone,” said Rypstra, “and a huge hole in all of our lives.”

The family had been in the country for two years, working to help a local orphanage and supply underprivileged Bulembu residents with clothing, school equipment, instruments and tools.

"When they got involved in Bulembu … they fell in love with the children there and the community there," said Dave Perrott, Brendan’s father.

"We can’t begin to tell you how proud we are of them as people and what they’ve done. They forged communities here and in Bulembu.”

A GoFundMe account has been set up in the family’s name and the funds will go towards Bulembu Ministries.

_{With files from the Canadian Press.}