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
'The world is too messy for bureaucratic hurdles': Canada still bars Afghanistan aid
Ottawa has plans to finally stop blocking Canadian development aid to Afghanistan this year.
Student anti-war protesters dig in as faculties condemn university leadership over calling police
Students protesting the Israel-Hamas war at at universities across U.S., some of whom have clashed with police in riot gear, dug in Saturday and vowed to keep their demonstrations going, while several school faculties condemned university presidents who have called in law enforcement to remove protesters.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Hamas is reviewing an Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, as possible Rafah offensive looms
Hamas said Saturday it was reviewing a new Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, as Egypt intensified efforts to broker a deal to end the months-long war and stave off a possible Israeli ground offensive into the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
Cisco reveals security breach, warns of state-sponsored spy campaign
State-sponsored actors targeted security devices used by governments around the world, according to technology firm Cisco Systems, which said the network devices are coveted intrusion points by spies.
I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'oesn't get' the global phenomenom.
opinion RFK Jr.'s presidential candidacy and its potential threat to Biden and Trump
Although it's still unclear how much damage Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s candidacy can do to either Joe Biden or Donald Trump this election, Washington political columnist Eric Ham says what is clear is both sides recognize the potential threat.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Russia renews attacks on the Ukrainian energy sector as Kyiv launches drones at southern Russia
Russia launched a barrage of missiles against Ukraine overnight, in attacks that appeared to target the country's energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, Russia said its air defense systems had intercepted more than 60 Ukrainian drones over the southern Krasnodar region.