A vehicle on fire, unrecognizable. Debris for tens of meters. Bodies hidden under sheets, lined up along the highway. The deadliest crash in Manitoba history occurred noon Thursday, claiming the lives of at least 15 seniors who were traveling by minibus to entertain themselves at the casino.
Shockwaves swept through Manitoba – and across Canada – on Thursday afternoon as the toll from a violent collision on the Trans-Canada Highway grew. In total, 15 elderly people lost their lives and 10 others were injured, confirmed the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in the early evening. It is the deadliest road accident in the province, authorities have confirmed.
And the number of victims could still increase. A total of 25 residents of the town of Dauphin, in the north of the province, were in a minibus when it was hit by a heavy truck at the intersection of two highways.
The crash happened at noon Manitoba time at the intersection of Highway 5 and the Trans-Canada Highway near the town of Carberry. This municipality is located approximately 170 kilometers west of Winnipeg.
PHOTO NIRMESH VADERA, PROVIDED BY AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Smoke rises from the minibus which was carrying more than twenty elderly people.
By early evening, traffic had resumed on the Trans-Canada Highway at the height of the accident. “It’s a carnage, there are at least twenty or thirty police cars at the intersection, the truck is in the ditch, and the bus is in pieces”, described at the end of the wire Marie- Eve Delorme. The Quebecer is crossing Canada to work this summer in British Columbia. She passed the scene of the accident around 6 p.m.
There were bodies on the side of the highway. Covered. I saw three or four in a row. There were car parts over a good fifty meters long and wide. It’s gigantic. It’s scary!
Marie-Eve Delorme
An investigation by the RCMP Major Crimes Division has been opened to shed light on the tragedy. “Today will be a day of tragedy and great sadness for Manitoba and Canada as a whole,” RCMP Commander Rob Hill said to reporters.
The flag was flown at half-mast at the Manitoba Legislative Building in memory of the victims.
A coordinated emergency response
The RCMP was made aware of the accident at 11:43 a.m. From the start, authorities understood that the collision had caused multiple deaths and initiated a response accordingly, Commander Rob Hill explained at a press conference. .
In addition to local rescue, the services of the remote area ambulance company STARS were called upon. Two helicopters were dispatched from Regina, Saskatchewan, and Winnipeg, Manitoba. Medical teams made up of doctors, nurses and paramedics have also been deployed, STARS spokesperson Blake Robert told The Press. A total of 14 personnel were dispatched to the scene of the accident.
Such a deployment was seen following the collision that killed 16 Broncos in Humboldt, Saskatchewan in 2018. Or, after the attack in the James Smith Cree Nation in Saskatchewan last fall. , points out Mr. Robert.
A code orange was also launched in Manitoba’s health system, to ensure medical resources were in place to handle a large influx of patients. Ten injured people were transported to four hospitals in the province for emergency treatment.
Among these, the drivers of the minibus and the heavy goods vehicle.
A community in shock
The tragedy had repercussions hundreds of kilometers from the site of the collision. Indeed, the passengers of the minibus came from the municipality of Dauphin, about 200 kilometers north of Carberry.
PHOTO NIRMESH VADERA, PROVIDED BY AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Two helicopters were deployed to the scene of the accident.
They took advantage of this sunny day to go and have fun at the casino located a little further south. They had used a private minibus service, according to the city’s mayor, David Boziak.
Dauphin, a town of around 11,000 inhabitants, was in shock on Thursday.
Of course there will be [une victime] that everyone knows in our community. They are old people. Many of them have been here for a long time.
David Boziak, mayor of the city of Dauphin
He never imagined that his city would be affected when he first heard about the accident on the news around noon. But at the end of the day, his phone was not ringing.
A center to welcome worried or bereaved families has notably been established in the basement of a local church.
“People are in shock, saddened, and they come together,” said the mayor. But I’m sure people in our community will stick together in the weeks, months and even years to come. »
They said
The news from Carberry, Manitoba is tragic. I offer my deepest condolences to those who lost loved ones today, and the injured are in my thoughts. I can’t imagine the pain you are feeling, but Canadians are here for you.
Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
I am heartbroken by the news of the victims of the horrific accident that took place near Carberry, Manitoba earlier today. I thank the police, firefighters and ambulances who went to the scene to help people at this tragic time.
Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada
We are heartbroken and our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those affected by the terrible tragedy that occurred near the town of Carberry. I know our dedicated first responders and healthcare workers are doing everything they can to help them, and I want to thank them on behalf of all Manitobans.
Heather Stefanson, Premier of Manitoba