In the last eight days, a Mansfield native and a Fergus resident have died violently in Mexico and California, respectively.

Mansfield native Kenneth Charles Peter Klowak, 43, was the victim of a homicide near the town of San Miguel de Allende, a popular tourist destination in Mexico’s Piedras Negras region, near the Texas border.

The June 9 incident is under investigation by Mexican authorities with help from Canadian consulate officials in Monterrey.

Last Friday, David Victor Ogison, 32, of Fergus was killed in a paragliding accident in Chula Vista, California, near San Diego.

Mr. Klowak, an avid cyclist, was driving to a private mountain bike trail preserve when his vehicle was blocked on the highway by a group of gunmen. Local police reports say the SUV, driven by Mr. Klowak, evaded the blockade and came under fire.

An ensuing high-speed chase resulted in his vehicle overturning and crashing. According to local police reports, witnesses said one of the pursuing gunmen approached the wreckage and shot Mr. Klowak twice.

A passenger in the same vehicle was seriously injured.

Canadian officials in Mexico and Ottawa would say little, other than that they are participating in the investigation.

“Canadian consular officials in Monterrey and Mexico City are working closely with local authorities

Orica to gather additional information, and are providing consular assistance to the family,” Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Alain Cacchione said in an email. “Due to privacy considerations, no further information is available at this time.”

Services were held in Orangeville Wednesday for Mr.Klowak.

According to San Diego television reports, Mr. Ogison fell 1,500 feet to his death when his para- sail apparently collapsed, causing him to loose control.

Witnesses said he was ground launching from a mountain top – running off the side of a mountain in order to take-off.

According to reports from KSWB-TV, he was paragliding over treacherous ravines in a remote area. Due to the rugged terrain, it took rescue teams a half hour to reach Mr. Ogison, who was declared dead at the scene.