Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Monday 9 april 2018

Canadian town mourns: 15 die when truck, bus collide

By JEREMY HAINSWORTH cal schools, MacLEAN said
and ROB GILLIES the tragedy touches every
Associated Press corner of Humboldt.
HUMBOLDT, Saskatchewan Canadian police said the
(AP) — A hockey arena be- truck driver, who was not
came the epicenter of grief hurt, was initially detained
for a small Canadian town but has since been re-
on Sunday, as friends, rela- leased and provided with
tives and those that housed mental health assistance.
the young hockey players Royal Canadian Mounted
gathered to mourn 15 peo- Police Assistant Commis-
ple killed after a semi-trailer sioner Curtis Zablocki said
slammed into a bus carry- it’s too early to state a
ing a youth hockey team in cause for the crash.
western Canada. Photographs of the wreck-
Fourteen were also injured, age showed the twisted
some critically, in a col- trailer with most of its wheels
lision that left a country, in the air and the bus on its
its national sport and the side with its back portion
hockey-obsessed town of destroyed. The force of the
Humboldt, Saskatchewan crash sent both vehicles
reeling. into the ditch at the north-
The bus had 29 passengers, west corner of the intersec-
including the driver, when it tion.
crashed at about 5 p.m. Fri- Emergency personnel work at the scene of a fatal crash outside of Tisdale, Saskatchewan, Cana- The tractor-trailer would
day on Highway 35, police da, Saturday, April, 7, 2018. A bus, top, en route to Nipawin carrying the Humboldt Broncos junior have had to yield to a stop
said. Among the dead are hockey team crashed into a truck Friday night, killing 14 and sending over a dozen more to the sign before crossing over
Broncos head coach Dar- hospital. the highway that the hock-
cy Haugan, team captain Associated Press ey bus was travelling on.
Logan Schatz and radio There is a stand of trees on
announcer Tyler Bieber. seph, who is the son of manager. makeshift stage and hun- the southeast corner of the
Residents of this town of former NHL player Chris The names of all the dead dreds of chairs sit ready for intersection, limiting visibility
less than 6,000 have been Joseph. The Locke family and injured have not been the memorial. of the approach on both
leaving flowers, team jer- housed Joseph and treat- released by police. "We're devastated," said roads.
seys and personal tributes ed him like a son. Norman Mattock, a long- hockey club Vice President Police said a lot of issues
on the steps of the arena's "Best person ever," Locke time season ticket holder, Randolph MacLEAN. "At have to be investigated,
entrance, forming a make- said. "Down to earth, loved said his neighbor housed the center of this, we have including weather condi-
shift memorial. One tribute playing with the kids." player Morgan Gobeil. The 15 souls who'll never go tions at the time and any
included a Kraft macaroni His wife wiped away tears defenseman was severely home again. We have 29 mechanical issues with the
and cheese dinner box, from swollen eyes. injured and remains in seri- lives that will never be the vehicles.
which was a favorite meal Forward Logan Hunter ous but stable condition, same." The tragedy brought to
of deceased forward Evan and defensemen Stephen Mattock said. MacLEAN said the commu- mind an accident in 1986,
Thomas. A bouquet of pink Wack, Adam Herold and He said players become nity comes together at the when the Swift Current
roses adorned the box, Xavier Labelle were also part of the community fab- arena on game nights that Broncos team bus slid off an
which read "to Evan, game among the dead, accord- ric, doing volunteer work or draw 800 to 1,000 people icy highway and crashed in
day special, love your billet ing to family members and serving in restaurants. Three to the stands. late December, killing four
brother and sister Colten others. Assistant coach players who billeted by the "It's an energy that spreads players.q
and Shelby." Mark Cross, bus driver Glen same family all died in the through the town with road
While most of the play- Doerksen and stats keeper crash, he added. signs saying 'game tonight,'
ers were from elsewhere Brody Hinz, who was 18, "They lost them all," Mat- tickets for sale everywhere,"
in western Canada, they were also killed. tock said. he said.
were put up by families Herold, who would have The Broncos are a close-knit As is the case with small
in the small town of Hum- turned 17 on Thursday, team who dyed their hair town hockey across Cana-
boldt. Billeting families are played for the Regina Pat blond for the playoffs. The da, he said, the arena is not
a large part of junior hock- Canadians hockey team bus was driving the team just a recreation facility, but
ey, with players spending until just weeks ago, but to a crucial playoff game a focus of community life
years with host families. was sent to join the Broncos Friday against the Nipawin with the hockey team at its
Dennis Locke, his wife and for their playoff round when Hawks. center.
three young children came the Pat Canadians' season A vigil will be held on the With players who billet by
to the arena to hang post- wrapped up, said John hockey team's home ice local families, work in city
ers of forward Jaxon Jo- Smith, the Pat Canadians' on Sunday night, and a businesses and attend lo-