TORONTO (AP) — After reviewing video footage of the tragic accident, authorities announced on Friday that the bus involved in a collision with a semi-trailer truck, resulting in the deaths of 15 individuals, was not in the right of way.
Superintendent Rob Lasson of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police revealed that the dash cam video from the semi-truck, along with statements from witnesses who were passing by, supported the findings. Lasson stated, “The video clearly shows that the bus entered the roadway where the semi-truck had the right of way,” and later added, “We are unsure why the bus proceeded.”
The driver of the bus, who is currently hospitalized, has not been interviewed by the police yet, while the truck driver has been discharged from the hospital.
Lasson emphasized that the investigation was ongoing and that no blame had been assigned at this stage. Additionally, authorities were examining the possibility of mechanical issues with the truck.
Regarding the victims, Lasson mentioned that their identities had not been established yet. However, those who did not sustain injuries were presumed to have lost their lives. The age range of the deceased and injured individuals was between 58 and 88, with 19 women and six men among them.
On the day of the accident, the group of 25 seniors was embarking on a day-trip from rural Dauphin, Manitoba, when tragedy struck on the Trans-Canada Highway.
Out of the 10 seniors who managed to survive the crash, six were reported to be in critical condition, according to health officials on Friday. The remaining four survivors were also hospitalized, with many of them suffering from head injuries and broken bones.
Dr. Shawn Young, the chief operating officer of Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg, addressed the media in a news conference, emphasizing the challenging road to recovery for this elderly group of patients. He stated, “This is an elderly cohort of patients, so recoveries will be long and, of course, can be complicated.”
Chief medical examiner John Younes explained that the process of identifying the deceased individuals was still underway. Identification methods such as fingerprints, dental records, and, if necessary, serial numbers on artificial hips and even DNA were being utilized. Younes stated, “The reason we have to undertake scientific means of identification is that most, if not all, of the deceased have significant facial trauma, so identifying them visually is not possible.”
According to authorities, it is expected that post-mortem examinations will be conducted by Monday, and the process of identifying the victims will be completed by the middle of next week.
In Dauphin, the hometown of most of the bus passengers, flags were lowered to half-staff as a mark of respect and mourning.
Sandra Kaleta, who is associated with the Dauphin Active Living Centre, shared her personal connection with some of the individuals on the bus. She mentioned that she used to play Scrabble every Tuesday with one of them and expressed her concern for their well-being. “I have no idea how she is,” Kaleta said, acknowledging the uncertainty faced by many families. She also recalled the shared excitement among the group about the rare opportunity to visit the casino, as such outings had been infrequent due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s going to take years, not just days or months, to recover,” expressed Sandra Kaleta, highlighting the long-term impact of the incident.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the flag at Ottawa’s Peace Tower on Parliament Hill would also be lowered as a symbol of mourning.
The crash occurred shortly before noon on Thursday, with the police stating that road conditions were clear at the time.
Rescue teams arrived at a devastating scene with bodies strewn on the road. The semi-truck remained upright in a ditch, its front end crumpled, while the bus was engulfed in flames on the nearby grass, eventually reducing it to a charred chassis.
David Bosiak, the Mayor of Dauphin, remarked that the entire city, with a population of approximately 8,600, has connections to someone aboard the bus, resulting in a collective sense of shock and grief.
The incident evoked memories of a tragic bus crash in the neighboring province of Saskatchewan in 2018, where 16 members of the Humboldt Broncos minor league hockey team lost their lives.
In a separate incident, police in the Canadian province of British Columbia have reported that there were no critical injuries among the 30 individuals on board a charter bus that crashed on a forest service road north of Prince George, British Columbia on Friday.
RCMP Cpl. Jennifer Cooper stated that a significant response of ambulances and police officers had been deployed to the scene. The bus was transporting pipeline workers when it veered off the road on Friday morning.
BC Emergency Health Services confirmed that 17 patients were transported to the hospital for further medical care.
