The Province 

Bikram Bhandal was at a loss to describe the pain he felt after losing his son and daughter in a single, sudden and senseless accident Friday night.

Surrounded by friends Saturday afternoon, Bhandal visited the spot on the rural Abbotsford road where his children were killed -- then returned to the bedside of his injured wife at MSA Hospital.

"He is very upset. There are no words for it," said Bhajan Sidhu, a family friend.

Bhandal's 25-year-old son and 19-year-old daughter, both from Toronto, were in Abbotsford for a family wedding when they were struck by a pickup truck while walking down a country road Friday night.

Four others died -- two male and two female -- and at least 17 people were injured, in the horrific accident that happened as family and friends took part in an Indo-Canadian pre-wedding ceremony.

Following tradition, the group were winding in a procession through local roads, celebrating the wedding. The large group of 25 to 30 people, mostly women from the bride's side of the family, were walking south down Lefeuvre Road at about 11:15 p.m.

Neither the bride nor the groom was with the group as the group sang and beat drums on their way to announce the wedding to neighbours.

A vehicle with four-way flashers was supposed to be tailing them, but it wasn't yet in position when a 1981 Chevy pickup truck drove into them from behind, knocking several celebrants into the ditch.

A number of people were pinned under the vehicle, which was driven by a 71-year-old Abbotsford man who was not part of the wedding.

Abbotsford Police Const. Casey Vinet said officers arrived to find "chaos."

"It was difficult for police and firefighters to work their way through the victims and identify those who were most seriously injured," he said. "I have been told by one of our senior officers with over 20 years' experience that this is the most difficult scene he's ever witnessed."

Fourteen ambulances, including two medevac helicopters, were called to transport victims to the hospital while off-duty police officers arrived to assist.

Among the injured were two babies, including a seven-month-old that was transported to Royal Columbian Hospital and then on to Children's Hospital in Vancouver in serious condition. A four-month-old was rushed to MSA Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Doctors at seven local hospitals, including Vancouver General, worked through the night to take care of the survivors, said Eileen McAlear with the Fraser Health Authority.

"We called a Code Orange, which affects all the hospitals in Fraser Health," she said.

The six dead ranged from teenagers, including a boy in his mid-teens, to those in their 50s.

Some of the victims were members of the Mahil family, a prominent and well-respected Abbotsford family of blueberry farmers.

The pre-wedding celebration took place at the home of the bride's father, Avtar Mahil. His sister-in-law, Satinder Mahil, was killed in the accident.

"She was beautiful, caring, just an amazing person," Satinder's daughter-in-law said Saturday, adding that Satinder's husband, Balbir, and their three grown children have been devastated by her death.

"She was wonderful, educated, strong-willed -- just an inspirational, beautiful person," she said, breaking into tears. "I can't do justice to her with what I'm saying. I can't tell you what she was like."

Abbotsford City Coun. Moe Gill said Balbir and Satinder were at his house two weeks ago to celebrate his granddaughter's birthday.

"They are good, hard-working people," he said.

Gill said the wedding, which was planned for Sunday at the Mission Gurdwara and would have included about 500 guests, will now be much smaller.

"It is terrible to see a happy day turned so sad," said Gill's wife, Jagdish.

At the bride's home Saturday, groups of people came to pay their respects, walking down the quiet country road where the accident happened. Two bouquets of freesias were left on the roadside, the ground beneath them still wet after firefighters cleaned the scene.

"It's so bad, so bad," said Manjit Dhinsa, a wedding guest who left Friday night's celebration early. "Oh my God. This is not good. Oh God."

Other guests expressed anger at the driver of the vehicle.

Vinet said the elderly man, who was "very shocked," was questioned and released without charges. Police were able to rule out alcohol and drugs, but are still investigating whether speed was a factor in the accident.

"There were dry conditions at the time. Given it was a rural area, it was very dark -- certainly that played a factor," he said.

Police have towed the man's truck and will conduct a mechanical inspection.

An information line has been set up for families at 604-864-4787.