UWO mourns students

By Wes Brown
Gazette Staff

Tragedy struck on the weekend as a four vehicle accident took the lives of three individuals – one a former member of the Western men's basketball team.

Former Western and current Fanshawe College student Stewart Farnum, Western student Shaun Lodge and Toronto resident Jason Edmunds were killed Saturday night at approximately 8 p.m. on Wonderland Road, south of Lawson Road.

Const. Tracey Frizzell, spokesperson for the London Police, said the cause of the accident was undetermined. She added the investigation was still underway.

"They don't know if speed was a factor as of yet, or if seat-belt use was a factor," she said, adding it was safe to say alcohol was not involved.

Authorities closed down the road until 2:36 a.m. the next morning and Frizzell said officials knew there were three deceased at the scene at 9:14 p.m..

"The two survivors remain in hospital, one in critical condition, the other in serious condition and were believed to be sitting on the right side of the vehicle," she said. "A lot of the major north/south arteries have speeding problems and there is a correlation with that, but it is still early in the investigation to say it was the cause."

Glenn Johnston, Farnum's basketball coach at Fanshawe, said the student was a team player who gave all he had every night on the court.

"Just last Thursday, we had Grade 6, 7 and 8 basketball teams practicing with all my guys. I think Stu had as much fun as the kids did. Later, he was up having pizza with all of them – that's just the kind of guy he was. His parents did a great job in raising a son like that."

Western head basketball coach Craig Boydell said he had the pleasure of coaching Lodge during his time at university and added the relationship he had with his teammates went beyond the year he spent on the team.

"These guys have been playing together for many years," Boydell said. "Shaun's a guy people had a lot of respect for. He was a warrior and a leader on the court. He'll be badly missed."

Edmunds' father, Joe, said he was proud of the kind of person his son had grown to be. "Jay was the kind of guy that if he wanted to do something, he was going to get it done. Recently, he had re-dedicated his life to acting and had already achieved his actors' union card," Edmunds said.

"I've met a lot of people in my life and when they find out who I am, in respect to Jason, they have nothing but good things to say about my son. That's always brought me a lot of pride."

Visitation for Edmunds and Lodge will be held at the Needham Funeral Chapel at 520 Dundas Street today between 2-4 p.m. and again between 7-9 p.m.. Farnum was transferred to Rosar-Morrison Funeral and Chapel in Toronto. A date for visitation has yet to be determined.