(Dauphin) The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has released the names of 16 people killed after a minibus was hit by a semi-trailer truck a week ago, west of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
One by one, officers and family members placed large photos of the victims, aged 68 to 88, on the stage at a press conference Thursday in the small community of Dauphin.
The vehicle was transporting a group of seniors from Dauphin and surrounding areas to a casino last Thursday when it entered the path of a semi-trailer truck on the Trans-Canada Highway near the town of Carberry, some 190 kilometers south of Dauphin.
“The word tragedy is on everyone’s lips this week, but this word has never had more weight than when we look at the photos that are in this room”, declared in press conference, Julie Courchaine, of the RCMP. .
RCMP PHOTO/THE CANADIAN PRESS
Front row photos of the victims (from left to right): Louis Bretecher, Margaret Furkalo, Vangie Gilchrist, Ann Hill and Helen Kufley. Middle row (left to right): Arlene Lindquist, Dianne Medwid, Nettie Nakonechny, Shirley Novalkowski and Frank and Rose Perzylo. Bottom row (left to right): Jean Rosenkranz, Donna Showdra, Lillian Stobbe, Patsy Zamrykut and Claudia Zurba.
“A shadow hangs over this community since the collision. We have lost sixteen mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, grandparents, who worked for decades to build the community we know today. They were gone in an instant,” she continued.
Mme Courchaine said nine other people remain in hospital with serious injuries.
Police said dash cam footage shows the minibus was crossing the Trans-Canada Highway when it entered the path of the truck.
Fifteen people in the minibus died that day and a woman succumbed to her injuries in hospital on Tuesday.
The list of those who lost their lives includes: Louis Bretecher, 81 – Margaret Furkalo, 82 – Vangie Gilchrist, 83 – Ann Hill, 81 – Helen Kufley, 88 – Arlene Lindquist, 68 – Diane Medwid, 70 years old – Nettie Nakonechny, 87 years old – Shirley Novalkowski, 76 years old – Franck Perzylo, 82 years old – Rose Perzylo, 80 years old – Jean Rosenkranz, 82 years old – Donna Showdra, 79 years old – Lillian Stobbe, 73 years old – Patsy Zamrykut, 88 years old – Claudia Zurba, 87 years old.
Members of the Dauphin community were to hold a vigil on Thursday evening to pray in memory of the victims.