BARRIE, Ont. — The trucking community is mourning the death of one of its own today, as Barrie trucker, Richard Paquette, was killed an accident yesterday.

The popular Paquette was known for his love of life, and he particularly enjoyed playing Santa Claus to entertain children.

“We’ve been looking through pictures of him all day, and in ever one, he’s smiling,” his sister-in-law, Francoise Bouchard tells local media. “He made a lot of children happy. I don’t know what we’re going to do without him.”

Those who know Paquette say the accident was definitely not his fault. In fact, he recently received a safe driving bonus.

Paquette’s family say he was passionate about driving truck.

“He was a person who thoroughly enjoyed his work,” says Bouchard. “In French, he would say he was a bon vivant or had joie de vivre.”