Tragic collision on Canadian highway claims lives of at least 15 individuals
Fifteen lives lost in a collision on a Canadian highway, where the semi-truck had the right of way, as confirmed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Dash camera footage from the truck revealed that the bus, carrying senior citizens, entered the roadway while the truck had the right of way, said RCMP Superintendent Rob Lasson in a news conference. The reason for the bus turning into the lane remains undetermined.
Lasson emphasized that no blame or culpability has been assigned at this stage; the authorities are solely presenting the known facts. The bus was en route to a casino near Carberry, traveling south on Highway 5, while the semi-trailer was traveling east on Highway.
The collision occurred at the intersection of the two highways, north of Carberry, approximately 170 kilometers (105 miles) west of Winnipeg.
The severity of the incident was immediately evident, prompting a mass casualty response. Of the 25 individuals on the bus, including the driver, aged between 58 and 88, 13 were female and two were male, tragically losing their lives. Ten others, including the drivers of the truck and bus, were transported to a hospital for treatment.
The truck driver was discharged from the hospital and is recovering well, while the bus driver remains hospitalized. Manitoba, where the accident occurred, had not experienced such a mass casualty traffic accident before, although it bears similarities to the devastating 2018 bus crash in Saskatchewan, which claimed the lives of 10 Humboldt Broncos hockey players and five others.
Manitoba RCMP have sought assistance from the main investigators of the Humboldt crash. The incident has deeply affected the investigators, as it is an emotionally draining situation for them. The majority of the bus occupants were seniors residing in and around the city of Dauphin.
Flags have been lowered to mourn the loss at Manitoba’s legislative building, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his condolences in a statement on Twitter, acknowledging the profound grief faced by those affected.
The CEO of the shipping company operating the semi-trailer, Day & Ross, pledged full cooperation with the investigation, although detailed information about the scene remains limited at present.