Wayne Olson, a community minister for the Church of Christ in Dauphin, stands outside Parkland Crossing in Dauphin, Man., on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. Olson is one of the organizers of a community memorial service for the 16 people who were killed in a bus crash a week ago. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kelly Geraldine Malone
DAUPHIN, Man. – RCMP have released the names of 16 seniors who died after a minibus was struck by a semi-truck west of Winnipeg.
One by one, officers and family members placed large photos of the victims, who ranged in age from 68 to 88, at the front of a news conference Thursday in Dauphin, Man.
The bus had been taking the group from Dauphin and the surrounding area on a trip to a casino on June 15, when it crashed with the truck near the town of Carberry.
“The word tragedy has been used a lot over the last week but never has that word had as much meaning as it does when we look at the photographs that line this room,” said Supt. Jeff Asmundson, commander of the Manitoba RCMP’s west district.
“There’s been a cloud over this community since the collision occurred. We lost 16 people who were mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, grandparents, whose decades of contributions helped make this community what it is.
“They were gone in an instant.”
Police have said dashcam footage shows the bus was crossing the Trans-Canada Highway when it went into the path of the truck.
Fifteen people on the bus died that day and a woman who was injured died in hospital Tuesday.
Health officials said nine others remained in hospital, with four still in critical condition.
Some of the families released brief statements about their loved ones through the RCMP.
“We are heartbroken and numb by this tragedy and the loss of our vibrant mother, Baba and Great Baba,” said the family of Helen Kufley, 88.
“She was and always will be the cornerstone of our family, the one we always went to for advice and wisdom, and we will miss her terribly.”
Former school teacher Nettie Nakonechny, 87, was remembered for being proud of her Ukrainian heritage and a “Baba,” not only to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but to many who knew her.”
“She will be missed by all of us who loved her.”
Community members in Dauphin were to hold a vigil Thursday night to mourn the victims.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 22, 2022.
