Date: March 6, 2026 l Reporter: Mensah
A Manitoba family is grieving after a Canadian mother was killed in a tragic bus crash while vacationing in the Dominican Republic, an accident that also left several other Canadians injured.
The victim, Kim Pattyn, 57, from Winnipeg, Manitoba, was travelling with her husband when the bus carrying tourists from Punta Cana International Airport to their hotels crashed on March 1, 2026. The vehicle reportedly slid off a highway in the tourist region of La Romana, leading to a fatal accident that shocked families back in Canada.
Pattyn was one of two Manitobans who died in the crash. Another victim, Colleen Fullerton, 67, from Lockport, Manitoba, was also killed. In addition, 13 other Canadians were injured during the incident.
According to Pattyn’s sons, Ashton and Brady Kropla, the family first learned about the crash through media reports rather than official communication. They said they had been waiting to hear from their mother after she texted them from the bus mentioning heavy traffic shortly before the accident.
Concern grew when the brothers were unable to reach her. They later received a call from a reporter asking whether they were related to Pattyn. The reporter had seen a report from the Dominican Republic stating that their mother — listed under her maiden name Lafantaisie — had died in the crash.
The family described the experience as devastating, saying they struggled to obtain clear information from authorities and travel agencies before the death was officially confirmed.
Pattyn’s husband survived the crash but required surgery after being hospitalized. He later told family members that the bus driver had reportedly been speeding before the accident occurred.
The bus was reportedly operated by a third-party transportation provider working with Sunwing Vacations, which organized the tourists’ travel. The travel company said it would cover the medical expenses of injured passengers and assist with returning the remains of the victims to Canada.
Friends and family have remembered Pattyn as a generous and compassionate person who devoted much of her time to helping others. She worked for Manitoba Health and was known for volunteering with animal rescue groups and community charities.
Her sons described her as a deeply caring mother who always put others before herself. They say her death has left a painful void not only in their family but also within the community she supported.
The tragic crash has raised renewed concerns about safety standards for tourist transportation services in popular travel destinations, as investigations into the accident continue.