Semi Had Right of Way in Horrific Manitoba Crash: RCMP

The horrific crash in Manitoba that left 15 seniors dead happened when a passenger bus drove into the path of an oncoming semi truck on the Trans-Canada highway.

“We have obtained video footage of the collision that was seized from the semi truck trailer,” said RCMP Superintendent Rob Lasson. “This video indicates that the bus entered the roadway where the semi trailer truck had the right of way,” Lasson told a news conference the afternoon of June 16.

However, he cautioned it is too early to assign blame.

“We are not assigning culpability or laying any blame at this time,” said Lasson. “We are merely stating the facts as we know them. The investigation is still ongoing with a lot of work to do.”

Lasson said the video is from a dash cam mounted at the front of the semi, and investigators are trying to learn everything they can from it.

“Extensive analysis is being done on the video before any further determinations are made,” said Lasson.

He added RCMP have spoken to the driver of the truck, although not to the driver of the bus, who is among the 10 injured people still in hospital.

The deadly crash happened the morning of June 15, near the town of Carberry in southwestern Manitoba.

RCMP have said the semi was travelling east on the Trans-Canada highway when there was a collision with the bus, which was going south on Highway 5.

He said RCMP have seized the bus and the semi truck, and additional analysis of the vehicles will take place.

Lasson added the 10 people injured in hospital have all been identified, which means anyone else on board the bus is presumed deceased.

Investigators have started the process of identifying the bodies of those killed, but it is going to take time.

He said the age of people on the bus ranged from 58 years old to 88, with 19 women and six men. Six women survived the crash, and four men.

More to come.