Fourteen people were killed Friday when the bus they were in — carrying the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team — collided with a semi-trailer unit north of Tisdale.
Fourteen others on the bus were injured, three critically.
The RCMP is not confirming the identity of the victims at this time, including whether the deceased are players or coaches. There was no immediate word on the driver of the semi.
Parents and family seeking information about their family members who may have been in this collision can call 306-752-8700.
The collision happened at about 5 p.m. Friday on Highway 35 about 30 kilometres north of Tisdale, about halfway into the Bronco’s trip to Nipawin from Humboldt for Game 5 of their Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) semifinal series against the Nipawin Hawks. Nipawin is about 265 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon.
“It’s disbelief. It’s shock. The deepest grief that you can ever imagine,” a stunned Kevin Garinger said late Friday night, while driving home to Humboldt from Swift Current.
Garinger is the president of the Humboldt Broncos as well as the local school division’s director of education. He said he was in shock, and struggling to make sense of a terrible tragedy.
“Our organization will never be the same,” Garinger said of the hockey club he loves, one he said aspired to make not only good hockey players but also good young men as well.
“Our thoughts and prayers — everything we have in terms of our energy is directed toward trying to deal with, cope with the loss that’s occurred here,” he said.
Darren Opp, president of the Hawks, said a semi T-boned the Humboldt players’ bus.
Full article: http://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/humboldt-broncos-bus-involved-in-highway-crash
This story is beyond heart breaking. These families will never heal from this but they will have love and support around them. Hockey families are strong and always looking out for one another.
Tragic. R.I.P. all you Broncos.
Condolences to the families and friends of these 14 victims and as well the other 14 injuries as a result of this catastrophic highway collision. I am not going to speculate as to placing blame but I urge the investigators to do a thorough job and perhaps learn something that may in the future prevent another such tragedy. May all their souls rest in peace.
RIP to the victims.
My heart goes out to the family & the whole Community.
Such a great loss.