Family, first responders bring out Manitoba bus crash victims' photos in solemn procession as names released
CBC
One was a former school teacher. Another, the cornerstone of her family whom loved ones went to for advice.
They were parents and grandparents — babas, a pepère and a great-great nana — all among the 16 victims of a fatal crash in southwestern Manitoba identified publicly for the first time at an RCMP news conference at Credit Union Place in Dauphin, Man., on Thursday.
Alone or in small groups, family members walked slowly across the room, clutching a photo of someone they loved who died in the collision, before placing it on display alongside the other victims' pictures.
While none of the families spoke, some wrote statements for Mounties to read, sharing a little piece of the person they lost with the world. Other victims had their photos carried out not by a relative but a first responder who paid their respects.
"Hearts are broken, families are grieving," said Manitoba RCMP West District Commander Supt. Jeff Asmundson, pausing as his voice quivered with emotion.
"A community is feeling immeasurable loss."
The victims of the crash who died were:
The update comes a week after the crash that shook the small Manitoba community that most of the victims called home.
Fifteen people died at the scene when a bus taking them on a day trip to a casino collided with a semi-trailer truck shortly before noon on June 15 at a highway intersection near Carberry, Man., a community about 160 kilometres west of Winnipeg.
RCMP said the 25 people on the bus were mostly seniors from Dauphin, a city about 150 kilometres north of Carberry. Police said the bus was going south down Highway 5 and crossing eastbound lanes of the Trans-Canada Highway near Carberry when it was hit by the truck.
WATCH | Community "feeling immeasurable loss":
Dauphin Mayor David Bosiak said there was a "genuine sense of sombreness and sadness" that fell over the city of about 8,000 last week as it became clear how many community members were killed in the crash.
"The next few days and weeks and months will be difficult. We have lost a tremendous amount of our families, our friends and our neighbours," said Bosiak, whose western Manitoba city was home to most of those on the bus.
"However, I know that we will never forget them, and as we heal, I trust we will continue to support each other and remember all the good these wonderful people brought to us."
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