'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
NEW 'She was waiting for you': The story of how a B.C. man found his birth mother in England
After his adopted parents died, Dave Rogers set out to learn more about his birth mother. DNA results and a little help from friendly strangers would put him on a path to a small town in England.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Italy's white-collar mafia is making a business killing
Italy's mafia rarely dirties its hands with blood these days. Extortion rackets have gone out of fashion and murders are largely frowned upon by the godfathers.
Spike in 'violent rhetoric' since Oct. 7 attack from 'extremist actors,' CSIS warns
The Israel-Hamas war has led to a spike in 'violent rhetoric' from 'extremist actors' that could prompt some in Canada to turn to violence, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service warns.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.
Israeli army tells Palestinians to evacuate parts of Gaza's Rafah ahead of an expected assault
The Israeli army on Monday ordered tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza's southern city of Rafah to start evacuating from the area, signalling that a long-promised ground invasion there could be imminent.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
A Holocaust survivor will mark that history differently after the horrors of Oct. 7
This year's Holocaust Remembrance Day, which begins on Sunday evening in Israel, carries a heavier weight than usual for many Jews around the world.
India's foreign minister reacts to murder charges, claims Canada welcomes criminals
India's Foreign Affairs Minister accused Canada of welcoming criminals from his country in response to the RCMP's recent arrests in a homicide that has roiled tensions between the two countries.