Two Popular High School Athlete Killed On Thanksgiving

Cody Kehler and Chantal Maclean, both 17, were Grade 12 high school sweethearts. CBC

A community is in mourning after two popular high school athletes were killed Monday afternoon in a five-car pileup in Delta. Cody Kehler and Chantal Maclean, both 17, were Grade 12 high school sweethearts.​​They were both headed to Thanksgiving dinner around 3:15 p.m. PT Monday when their westbound car lost control and crossed into oncoming traffic according to police.

Today on Facebook Maclean's sister wrote, "Last night my beautiful little sister Chantal passed away in a car accident. I can't cry enough tears to make it better. It doesn't feel real. I don't know what to say other than this feels so unfair. My heart aches."Both kids were involved in their community and both played rugby.

Kehler's coach, Derek Dodd, says Cody was an exceptional young man.


"He worked hard for his family. He held down a job and he worked hard at his studies and loved his lady, his girl," said Dodd.

"You know he was a real treasure to have around so we're really going to miss him a lot."​​The teens' friends were too emotional Tuesday to talk about what happened.

Surrey school spokesman Doug Strachan says the school brought in grief counsellors.

"It's a tragic circumstance and difficult to deal with when [even] one student in a school dies in this way suddenly and it's obviously very difficult for the school community to absorb this right now." he said.

A memorial volleyball game is being played Wednesday night in their honour at the high school.

CBC