A tragic collision on Thursday near Carberry, Manitoba, claimed the lives of at least fifteen people when a bus carrying elderly passengers en route to a local casino collided with a truck at a rural intersection about 170 kilometres west of Winnipeg. RCMP Deputy Commander Rob Hill confirmed that emergency crews pronounced fifteen victims dead at the scene, while ten others were rushed to nearby hospitals with injuries ranging from critical to moderate.
Witnesses described a scene of heartbreaking devastation: shattered wheelchair seats and walking frames strewn across the roadside, their fragments mingling with tarpaulins draped over the bodies of the fallen. Despite the force of the impact, both the bus driver and the truck driver survived and have been taken into custody for questioning as investigators work to determine fault and the sequence of events that led to the collision.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered his condolences, saying, “My thoughts are with the injured and with the families who have lost loved ones in this tragic accident,” while Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson also issued a statement expressing deep sympathy and pledging provincial support for those affected.
Local authorities have closed the intersection pending a full forensic examination, and trauma counselors have arrived to assist survivors and witnesses. As the community grapples with this sudden loss, family members await word on loved ones still in hospital, and local officials urge anyone with information—especially drivers who passed through the area before first responders arrived—to contact the RCMP.
In the coming days, officials will release more details on the victims and the progress of the investigation. For now, Carberry and the surrounding region remain united in grief, offering prayers, vigils, and practical aid to help survivors and families begin the long process of healing.