Sports

15 Dead In Saskatchewan Junior Hockey Team Bus Crash

David Krayden Ottawa Bureau Chief
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A collision killed 15 and injured 14 other members of a Saskatchewan junior hockey team Friday.

As CBC News reports, the bus carrying coaches and players of the Humboldt Broncos collided with a truck.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), responsible for the province’s policing, confirmed that 15 others were injured in the crash and has identified two of the fatalities as head coach Darc Haugan and Humboldt radio journalist Tyler Bieber.

The incident occurred near Tisdale, Sask., a small community not far from the northern city of Prince Albert. At least three of those injured are in critical condition, police said.

By late Saturday morning, a GoFundMe page created for the crash victims’ families had already raised $337,267 of its $500,000 goal.

Tom Straschnitzki told CBC News that his son Ryan sustained a severe back injury in the crash.

“He’s alive and breathing, and from what we know he has a broken back, and as of now, can’t feel anything from his waist down,” Straschnitzki told CBC.

“I think he’s still in shock, still asking how everyone is and who perished and who didn’t.”

The Broncos were on their way to play the Tisdale Hawks on Friday night.

President Donald Trump sent his “highest respect and condolences” to  the victims and families affected by the accident in conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Saturday.

“Just spoke to @JustinTrudeau to pay my highest respect and condolences to the families of the terrible Humboldt Team tragedy. May God be with them all!” Trump tweeted.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and Trudeau have also issued statements of condolences to the team and families.

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