Canadian bus crash kills 15 people and injures 10 more
A tragic collision between a semi-trailer truck and a bus carrying seniors in central Canada’s Manitoba province has resulted in the death of at least 15 people and injured 10 more.
The Accident
The accident occurred near the town of Carberry, west of Winnipeg and remained closed until further notice. RCMP Manitoba officer Rob Hill told reporters, that the bus, carrying approximately 25 people, collided with a semi at the intersection of Highway One and Highway Five. Hill added that most of the people in the minibus were elderly and “Fifteen people have been confirmed deceased,” while ten others were taken to hospitals for various injuries.
Emergency Services Involved
Several tarps were laid on the ground, possibly covering some of the victims, according to witnesses while a burned vehicle was found in a ditch. Hospitals in the region confirmed the incident resulted in large numbers of casualties and were responding to the emergency. Responders included emergency vehicles and two helicopters situated near the area.
National Response
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his condolences via his official Twitter feed, stating that the news from Carberry, Manitoba is “incredibly tragic” and sending his “deepest condolences” to those who have lost loved ones. Meanwhile, Heather Stefanson, Manitoba’s premier, stated on Twitter that “My heart breaks hearing the news of the tragic accident near Carberry. My most sincere condolences go out to all those involved”.
Impact on Traffic
The highway was closed in both directions with authorities asking motorists to avoid the area. Truck driver Josh Carson, who had driven past the accident site, had told Global News television that there were people “all over” the place receiving medical attention, and it “for sure looked like a pretty bad one”.
This crash echoes another tragic accident that occurred in 2018 in the neighboring western province of Saskatchewan, where 15 people were killed in an accident caused by the collision between a truck and a bus carrying young ice hockey players.
