At least 15 people were killed Thursday in an accident between a tractor-trailer and a van carrying disabled people in central Canada, according to local media. The toll could increase given the severity of the accident.
The police explained on Twitter that they would intervene “at the scene of a very serious collision” near the town of Carberry, in the province of Manitoba.
And the hospitals in the region confirmed “that an intervention with a large number of victims (was) underway” and that all establishments were on alert, having activated the orange code.
“I’ve never seen that”
Firefighters in nearby Brandon, a mid-size city, said the accident involved a semi-trailer truck and a minivan that specializes in transporting people with disabilities.
“It was really surreal to see the scale of the accident. I had never seen that,” said Nirmesh Vadera, who came by shortly after the incident.
According to this man, who works in a hotel-restaurant on the highway, there are many emergency vehicles at the scene, as well as two helicopters. Dozens of people are deployed in the place.
Justin Trudeau speaks out about ‘tragic’ news
At this intersection between the Trans-Canada Highway and a provincial highway about two hours from Winnipeg – the capital of Manitoba – a truck with a trailer was seen pulled to the side and a little further on a pick-up truck was burning, a still said.
Heavy smoke was visible around the crash site which occurred around noon (1700 GMT).
“The news coming out of Carberry, Manitoba is tragic,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Twitter. “I offer my deepest condolences to those who lost loved ones today, and those injured are in my thoughts. I cannot imagine the pain you are feeling, but Canadians are there for you,” he added.
“It breaks my heart to hear the news of the tragic accident near Carberry. I send my condolences to everyone involved,” Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson tweeted.
Motorists are urged to avoid the area.
Police have asked motorists to avoid the area and allow emergency vehicles through. The highway is closed in both directions, authorities said.
“There were people everywhere, some appeared to be receiving medical attention… The situation seemed very dire,” the truck driver, Josh Carson, told Global News television.
This tragedy is tragically reminiscent of an accident that occurred in 2018 in the neighboring province of Saskatchewan. Fifteen people died in a collision between a truck and a bus carrying young ice hockey players, the national sport.
Source: BFM TV
