15 Dead, 10 Hurt As Bus Taking Seniors To Casino Collides With Truck In Canada's Manitoba

A bus ferrying 25 people collided with a semi-trailer truck at a highway intersection in Canada's Manitoba leading to 15 deaths. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau mourned the fatalities.

Representative Photo | The crash took place in Carberry, a city 170 kilometers (105 miles) west of Manitoba’s capital of Winnipeg in Canada.

Source : Getty Images

A bus ferrying seniors to a casino collided with a semi-trailer truck at a highway intersection in a rural part of Canada's Manitoba on Thursday, killing 15 people and injuring 10 more. The crash took place in Carberry, a city 170 kilometers (105 miles) west of Manitoba’s capital of Winnipeg and the accident brought back memories of the 2018 bus crash in the neighboring province of Saskatchewan wherein 16 people from the Humboldt Broncos minor league hockey team died. As per Associated Press, Rob Hill, Commanding Officer of the Manitoba Royal Canadian Mounted Police, said the bus was carrying 25 people, and 10 people were taken to hospitals.

Authorities in Manitoba were said to be deploying all their resources to the scene.

TV broadcasters aired visuals that looked like a large van or bus smoldering in a ditch near a transport truck with a smashed engine on a road. The pavement was littered with debris such as broken glass, a large bumper, and what looked like a walking aid. Seven blue and yellow tarps were stretched out.

“As of right now the drivers of both the bus and truck are alive and in hospital,” RCMP superintendent Rob Lasson said, as quoted by AP. He did not mention if they were among the 10 listed as injured. The dead were mainly seniors.

According to the superintendent, the bus was heading south and there would have been a stop and yield sign. He said the bus was crossing the eastbound lanes when it was hit by the truck that was going east, adding that who had the right of way is key to the investigation.

“The public is reeling and asking a lot of questions and people are trying to determine if their loved ones were involved,” Lasson said, as per AP. “Death on this scale is never normalized for us,” he added.

Nirmesh Vadera was working at a business on the side of the highway when the crash happened and he said that when he went outside, he saw a transport truck with a smashed engine on the highway. The bus was on fire in the grass on the side of the road. First responders were trying to get people out of the burning vehicle, he added.

“It was burning and all the (firefighters) and medical help and everybody was trying to get them away from the fire,” he said, as quoted by AP.

Manitoba Accident: Canadian PM Justin Trudeau Mourns Deaths

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau mourned the deaths writing, “The news from Carberry, Manitoba is incredibly tragic. I’m sending my deepest condolences to those who lost loved ones today, and I’m keeping the injured in my thoughts.”

The news from Carberry, Manitoba is incredibly tragic. I’m sending my deepest condolences to those who lost loved ones today, and I’m keeping the injured in my thoughts. I cannot imagine the pain those affected are feeling – but Canadians are here for you.

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) June 15, 2023

Police said that passengers on the bus were from Dauphin and the areas around it. A family support center was set up at a Lutheran Church in Manitoba's Dauphin for relatives. 

Flags have been lowered to half-staff at the Manitoba legislature.

The truck company released a statement saying that it was heartbroken about the crash but had limited details about what happened.

“We will fully cooperate with the investigation and offer any assistance and support that we can,” said William Doherty, CEO of Day & Ross, as quoted by AP.

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