Saskatchewan's EMS family is mourning one of its own after a paramedic based in Meadow Lake was killed in a two-vehicle collision that also took the lives of two other people on Friday.

According to Beauval Fire and Rescue, crews responded to a two-vehicle collision on Highway 155 at around 5 p.m. When they arrived on scene, emergency personnel tried to revive the three people, but they did not survive.

Early information indicates four people were travelling in a truck and two people were travelling in an ambulance at the time of the crash. Jerry Morin Chief of Beauval Fire and Rescue, said the paramedic appeared to be a man in his 20s.

Beauval is a small community in northern Saskatchewan, about 400 kilometres north of Saskatoon and is served by the Meadow Lake Ambulance service.

Saskatchewan Health Authority confirms death

A press release from the Saskatchewan Health Authority confirmed the death of a Meadow Lake paramedic while they were responding to a call, but had little other information to provide.

"We are currently working to have community and staff supports in place to provide mental health assistance where needed," the statement explained.

"Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with all patients, individuals and families that have been involved and impacted by this tragic accident," it continued. "EMS personnel put themselves at risk to serve others, so it is especially heartbreaking when they are affected by such a crash. To protect the privacy of those involved, we will not be sharing any additional information at this time."

CBC Saskatoon has asked Saskatchewan RCMP for comment, but a response was not immediately received.

Nick Daigneault, the mayor of the Beauval, told CBC it's his understanding the other two people killed in the crash were two children, both with connections to the community.

He said one of the children attended Valley View Community School and Jans Bay School, with family members living in Beauval, while the younger child killed in the crash was a grandchild of a Beauval resident, said Daigneault.

"We definitely feel the connection as well to that family," said Daigneault.

Community rallying around family

He said some family members travelled to hospital in Saskatoon to be with others injured in the crash and that people in the community have already started to look for ways they can help the family.

"There's just so many wonderful individuals who pick themselves up and go out of their way to to contact the family directly," he said, noting some in the community have already started fundraising.

"We know all too well the expenses of staying in the city when it comes to medical or trips when you're dealing with loss and funeral expenses and what not. So we're just we're just responding in kind from the history that our people have really put into helping one another."

He said it's not just Beauval that's rallying behind the family either, but that the community of Buffalo Narrows and Jans Bay have also shown support.

"Even if they don't know them directly or they're not related it doesn't matter," he said. "They just want to really help out any way they can."

The Saskatchewan Health Authority has confirmed a paramedic with Meadow Lake EMS died in a fatal collision while responding to call near Beauval, Sask. on Oct. 25, 2019. (Trevor Bothorel/Radio-Canada)

Trevor Lowey, interim executive director of the Association of Saskatchewan Paramedics, said any time a member of the EMS family dies, it's a reminder how dangerous the job can be.

"It underlines our vulnerability when we are responding to someone else's emergency and that, at any time, we can also become an emergency ourselves," he said Saturday morning.

"The EMS family in the province numbers just over 2,000 members, so a lot of us, we all know everybody else," he said, adding he knows a number of people working in the Meadow Lake area.

"It's one of those waiting games where we're trying to find out if one of our close friends has been lost to us," he said.

He said paramedics across the province are encouraged to reach out to the Saskatchewan Health Authority for support if they've been affected by the crash.

The SHA also thanked all of those who responded to the crash to assist those in need and continue to offer help and support.

Morin, who was on scene at the crash, said the community of Beauval has been shaken as a result of the crash.

"It's a small community, so everybody knows everybody," he said. "It's a shock to everybody right now."

The Northern Village of Beauval Saskatchewan is located roughly 400 kilometres north of Saskatoon. (Screenshot/Google Maps)

Beauval fire chief cautions motorists as weather turns

The RCMP are still investigating the cause of the crash, but Morin said, with the weather turning quickly, he advised people to be cautious when travelling on northern roads.

"People should really, really take this weather into consideration when they're travelling," he said. "Take your time. Stay home. Do not travel. It's just not worth it."

Messages of support and condolence have already started to pour in. On Saturday morning, Saskatoon's ambulance service, Medavie Health Services West, took to Facebook to share their support.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the management and staff of Meadow Lake Ambulance, and to all of those affected by the tragic crash that occurred last night," the Facebook post said.

Traffic restrictions were in place for several hours as police investigated the crash but they appear to have been lifted as of Saturday morning according to Saskatchewan's Highway hotline.

'Long-time' since paramedic death in the line of duty in Saskatchewan

Kelly Prime, paramedic chief and president of the Paramedic Services Chiefs of Saskatchewan, said the organization will be working with the paramedic's family to determine how he will be honoured by the paramedic community.

Prime said news of the death is hitting everyone hard, as it's been some time since a paramedic died on the job in Saskatchewan.

"It's something that I certainly don't want to happen again, but the realization is that it could happen at any moment because paramedics across this province put their lives on the line in rain, snow or shine to respond to the health needs of the people of this province."

He said he's been in consistent communication with his fellow chiefs, frontline EMS and the SHA about how to support the paramedics, dispatchers and communities affected while making sure paramedics continue to serve the province, saying having help in place for those who need it is critical.

"We have a duty to continue to provide service and we need to be at our best. And when we're affected like this, we are human, and not all the time, can we put that brave face on and continue to do our job," he said.