'Waking up to a really bad dream': Manitoba communities mourn four teenagers killed in crash
Multiple Manitoba communities are in mourning following the deaths of four teenagers in a car crash involving a semi-truck on Wednesday.
The crash took place at around 10:50 p.m., with RCMP saying a car with five teenagers was heading north near Gilbert Plains on Provincial Road 274 when it hit the trailer of a semi heading east on Highway 5.
An 18-year-old male and two 17-year-old males – all from Dauphin- were killed. An 18-year-old girl from Carberry died from her injuries in hospital, while a 15-year-old girl from the RM of Dauphin remains in hospital with serious injuries.
Le Rouxan (know as Lennie or LR) Neumann was one of the passengers in the car. He turned 17 on February 28 and had been in Canada for less than a year with his family.
His parents, Jolien and Jaco Neumann, say in a message he was “one awesome amazing kid who made such a huge positive impact in so many people's lives in his short life.”
17-year-old La Rouxan (know as Lennie or LR) Neumann was a passenger killed in the car crash. (Source: Jolien Neumann)
They arrived in Dauphin in April from Montana, and South Africa before that.
“His teachers and kids from school in the community will also confirm that he was a great kid. It's really a very big loss for our family but it is easy to remember all the good he did because he never caused problems but only solutions.”
Lennie’s friends in Medicine Lake, Montana are honouring him at their prom in April, crowning him King.
His parents say, depending on funeral arrangements, they hope to be at that prom. They say Lennie had been in prom court in Grade 9 and last year in Grade 10.
“It’s just been a shock to everyone involved,” said Stephen Jaddock, superintendent/CEO of Mountain View School Division, where three of the teenagers killed in the crash attended school.
Two of the victims were students at Gilbert Plains Collegiate, while another was a student at Dauphin Regional Comprehensive Secondary School (DRCSS). The student currently hospitalized also attended DRCSS.
Crisis counsellors are at the two schools, Jaddock said, to help students process their emotions.
“It’s like waking up to a really bad dream, and realizing that this is reality, and we need to move forward and we need to move on, and what we can do,” Jaddock said.
“And I think that is the attitude that has been brought forward, just making sure we can be a presence in both of our communities.”
James Manchur, the Reeve of Gilbert Plains, said the entire community is saddened by the deaths.
“There’s going to be a period of mourning and grieving for sure, and reflection on those who were impacted,” he said Thursday night. “Time will tell and time will heal, I suppose, but it’s going to be a tough few weeks, if not longer, for not only the victims, the families and the community, but the first responders who had to come on scene last night.”
The crash remains under investigation by RCMP.
The Dauphin Kings held a minute of silence at their Friday night hockey game in Dauphin for the teens. They invited the Roblin Raiders High School Hockey Team to the game. Riley Robak, who died in the crash, was a member of this team.
"Last night, in a tragic accident, the Roblin Grand Plains Raiders lost one of their own. Riley Robak was an incredible athlete, an amazing friend, and an absolute gem of a human being and will be missed dearly," the team said in a Facebook post.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this incredibly difficult time.”
-With files from CTV’s Taylor Brock.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE AT 2:30 MT Evacuation order issued for some Fort McMurray neighbourhoods as wildfire nears
Four Fort McMurray neighbourhoods were ordered to evacuate as a wildfire gets closer to the city.
Maximum payout for LifeLabs class-action drops from $150 estimate to $7.86
Canadian LifeLabs customers who filed an application for a class-action settlement began receiving their payments this week, though at a much lower amount than initially expected.
Alice Munro, Nobel literature winner revered as short story master, dead at 92
Nobel laureate Alice Munro, the Canadian literary giant who became one of the world's most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history's most honoured short story writers, has died at age 92.
BREAKING Toronto's top doctor Eileen de Villa announces resignation
Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health is stepping down.
Latest updates on air quality alerts, and when the smoke may reach Ontario and Quebec
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
BREAKING Sask. man faces 60 charges in child exploitation investigation, with crimes dating back to 2005
Saskatchewan RCMP have revealed that a historic sexual assault investigation has led to the discovery of alleged crimes against children dating back to 2005.
American sought after 'So I raped you' Facebook message detained in France on 2021 warrant
An American accused of sexually assaulting a Pennsylvania college student in 2013 and later sending her a Facebook message that said, 'So I raped you,' has been detained in France after a three-year search.
Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
1 killed, 3 injured in head-on crash on Hwy. 417 in Ottawa
Ontario Provincial Police are responding to a fatal collision involving two vehicles on Highway 417 in Ottawa's west end on Tuesday morning.