Manitoba RCMP say semi-truck had right of way at time of deadly Trans-Canada Highway crash
Manitoba RCMP say they have obtained video footage of the deadly crash between a semi-truck and bus on the Trans-Canada Highway on Thursday that killed 15 people and sent 10 people to hospital, saying the semi-truck had the right of way at the time of the crash.
Superintendent Rob Lasson with the RCMP’s Major Crimes section provided an update to the investigation on Friday, saying they obtained video footage from the semi-truck trailer of the crash, which occurred around noon at the intersection of the Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 5.
“This video indicates that the bus entered the roadway where the semi trailer truck had the right of way,” Lasson said. “Extensive analysis is being done on the video before any further determinations are made.”
Lasson said RCMP have seized the bus and the semi-truck, with both being secured, and additional analysis of the vehicles will take place.
“We’re determining whether the semi had an event data recorder that will help us ascertain a number of critical pieces of information, such as speed, exact coordinates and the mechanical status of the vehicle,” he said.
Lasson said RCMP have interviewed passing motorists, whose statements they say corroborate what officers saw on the video.
“We are not assigning culpability or laying any blame at this time,” he said. “We are merely stating the facts as we know them. The investigation is still ongoing with a lots of work to do to in order to obtain a 100 per cent responsibility.”
Lasson said the age range of people in the bus ranged from 58 years old to 88 years old, with 19 women and six men. Six women survived the crash, along with four men.
Lasson added RCMP have spoken with the semi driver, but have not yet spoken with the bus driver, noting he is one of the people in hospital.
“Our primary concern at this time is his medical care and recovery,” he said.
Shared Health released an update Friday afternoon on the 10 patients who remain hospitalized, saying they range in age from early 60s to late 80s, and are being treated for a variety of serious injuries at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg and at Brandon Regional Health Centre.
“Of those patients, six are in a critical care unit and four are being cared for in a surgical unit,” Shared Health said in a news release.
Dr. Shawn Young, chief operating officer at HSC, said the six patients in critical care suffered severe injuries, and some have had surgery, with more operations expected.
“These injuries are quite significant,” he said, saying the majority of injuries are orthopedic.
Lasson said Friday the deceased have not all been individually identified at this time. He added officers have been having difficult conversations with the families of victims informing them that their loved ones are likely among the deceased.
“These are answers, but obviously not the kinds of answers people are hoping for,” Lasson said.
John K. Younes, Manitoba's chief medical examiner, said post-mortem examination and identification of the deceased should be completed by the middle of next week.
Young said during the news conference that “It’s possible” the death toll from the crash could increase.
“Age does have a big impact on our ability to withstand injuries like this,” Young said. “It will impact their recovery, it will impact their outcomes as well. This is an elderly cohort of patients, so their recoveries will be long and their course could be complicated.”
A code orange situation was in place at Health Sciences Centre for several hours.
“Everyone is working at the same time in harmony to make sure we have the capacity for the most acute patients,” said Lanette Siragusa, CEO of Shared Health.
According to Shared Health, 28 patients were moved from Health Sciences Centre to other facilities to help create capacity for patients impacted by the crash.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.