A 75-year-old woman was R”L tragically killed this afternoon in Kiryas Tosh, Quebec YWN has learned.

R’ Mordechai Friedman from Kiryas Yoel Hatzolah – who spent Shavuos in Tosh – was one of the first Hatzolah members on the scene, and spoke with YWN a few moments ago.

“Early this afternoon, the local fire department was on the scene of an electrical fire in a private home, while a large crowd of on-lookers stood by and watched”, Friedman said.

“According to eye-witnesses, a woman was standing on one of the hoses, when it was suddenly pulled by one of the fire trucks – throwing her off balance, and causing her to strike her head on the floor.”

“The woman was knocked unconscious, and we rushed her to a nearby hospital. After a short period of time, her condition deteriorated, and she was transferred to a trauma center – but 75-year-old Ruth Maskin A”H (from Florida) was R”L pronounced dead.”

Together with her husband, Mrs. Maskin had just recently moved from Florida to Kiryas Tosh, and having been developers for many years, had just started building 150 apartments for the local community. The Hanochas Even Hapina took place just a few weeks ago on Lag Ba’Omer.

Askonim are working on arranging a flight back to Florida, so her Levaya can take place tomorrow.

[The fire caused extensive damage to the structure, and was placed under control a short time after it started.]

Boruch Dayan Emmes… 

(Yehuda Drudgestein / Lipas)