A semi-trailer truck and a bus transporting senior citizens collided in a tragic accident close to the hamlet of Carberry in Manitoba, Canada, and a considerable number of lives were lost.
At least 15 people have died and 10 more have been injured in the collision, one of the bloodiest traffic incidents in recent Canadian history.
The event happened at the intersection of two main roads, where the bus, which was carrying about 25 people, struck the truck. The majority of those traveling on the bus were senior citizens going to a casino in Carberry.
The sad sight was furthered by burned-out automobiles marking the crash site and tarpaulins covering the victims.
First responders and Royal Canadian Mounted Police units quickly responded to the mass casualty crash, arriving at the scene. Police released updates on the injury that had been taken to local hospitals while also confirming the devastating death toll.
To accommodate the flood of victims, medical facilities were placed on high alert.
Details on the cause and accountability for the tragedy are still being investigated. Initial reports, however, said that Handi-Transit’s vehicle, which offers transport services for the elderly and crippled, was initially mistaken for a van.
The tragedy in Manitoba is reminiscent of the anguish and grief experienced in Saskatchewan, a neighboring province, in 2018, when a truck collided with a bus transporting young hockey players, killing 15.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson both expressed their sympathies in response to the tragic tragedy, which has deeply saddened the country. Both leaders expressed their condolences to the accident victims and promised help during this trying period.
The Trans-Canada Highway has been forced to close in both directions near Carberry due to the collision, and drivers have been advised to stay away from the area. The accident inquiry will seek to clarify the facts that gave rise to this unfortunate incident.
The tightly knit town of Carberry, Manitoba, as well as the rest of the country, is left in mourning as they come to grips with this tragic event that has claimed the lives of loved ones.
