A tragic accident in Canada’s Manitoba province has claimed the lives of at least 15 people after a truck collided with a bus carrying senior citizens. The collision occurred at the intersection of Highways 1 and 5, north of the town of Carberry. The bus, carrying passengers heading to a casino, was traveling south on Highway 5, while the semitrailer was heading east on Highway 1. The impact resulted in a mass casualty situation, with first responders quickly arriving at the scene.
Authorities have reported that in addition to the 15 fatalities, 10 others have been transported to a hospital for treatment. The injured include the drivers of both the semitrailer and the bus. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and healthcare services have been working diligently to respond to the incident, with ambulances and an air ambulance dispatched to the scene.
The province of Manitoba has not experienced a mass casualty traffic accident of this magnitude before, making it a challenging situation for investigators. The majority of the bus passengers were seniors from the city of Dauphin and its surrounding areas. As of now, not all of the families of the victims have been notified.
The news of the tragic accident has prompted an outpouring of support and condolences from across the country. Manitoba’s legislative building has lowered its flags in mourning, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his condolences to the affected families in a statement on Twitter. The CEO of the shipping company operating the semitrailer has assured full cooperation with the investigation, although limited details are currently available about the incident. The authorities will continue their efforts to determine the cause of the collision and support those affected by this devastating event.