Manitoba, Canada: At least 15 dead in highway collision

CNN
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No less than 15 individuals have died after a truck collided with a bus carrying senior residents in a rural portion of Canada’s Manitoba province on Thursday afternoon, in accordance with native authorities.

The bus was headed south on Freeway 5 towards a on line casino close to the city of Carberry, whereas the semitrailer was headed east on Freeway 1, Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer Rob Lasson stated in a information convention.

The semitrailer struck the bus on the intersection of the 2 highways north of Carberry, roughly 170 kilometers (105 miles) west of Winnipeg.

“Instantly it turned obvious that this was a mass casualty scenario,” Lasson stated.

Along with the 15 killed, 10 others have been taken to a hospital, authorities stated. The injured being handled included the drivers of the semitrailer and the bus, Lasson stated.

Twelve ambulances responded to the collision scene, in addition to an air ambulance, stated Jennifer Cumpsty, govt director of Acute Well being Companies.

Manitoba has not seen a mass casualty site visitors accident like this earlier than, Lasson advised reporters.

“That is new for us and our investigators, and it is rather emotionally draining for them as nicely,” he stated.

A majority of these on the bus had been seniors who lived in and across the metropolis of Dauphin, in accordance with RCMP assistant commissioner Rob Hill.

Not all the victims’ households had been notified as of Thursday night.

Flags have been lowered in mourning at Manitoba’s legislative constructing, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau marked the tragedy in an announcement on Twitter.

“The information from Carberry, Manitoba is extremely tragic. I’m sending my deepest condolences to those that misplaced family members as we speak, and I’m maintaining the injured in my ideas. I can’t think about the ache these affected are feeling – however Canadians are right here for you,” Trudeau tweeted.

William Doherty, CEO of delivery firm Day & Ross, which operated the semitrailer, has promised full cooperation with the investigation, noting that “right now, now we have restricted particulars from the scene.”