'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
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
DEVELOPING Live updates from the Trump hush money trial: Stormy Daniels, bookkeeper testify
Adult film star Stormy Daniels is on the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
BREAKING Sheldon Keefe out as head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team made the announcement Thursday after the Original Six franchise lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Boeing 737 catches fire and skids off the runway at a Senegal airport, injuring 10 people
A Boeing 737-300 plane carrying 85 people skidded off a runway at the airport in Dakar, Senegal's capital, injuring 10 people, according to the transport minister, an airline safety group and footage from a passenger that showed the aircraft on fire.
Breast cancer screening should start at age 40, Canadian Cancer Society says
The Canadian Cancer Society says all provinces and territories should lower the starting age for breast cancer screening to 40.
Man accused of killing two children at Quebec daycare to stand trial in April 2025
The man accused of murdering two children and injuring six others after a city bus crashed into a Montreal-area daycare is scheduled to stand trial over five weeks beginning in April 2025.