Kindness everywhere after bus crash kills 16
A tragic bus crash that has sunk a Saskatchewan community into deep sorrow has also released an incredible display of human kindness as residents struggle to deal with their grief.
Sixteen people died, including 10 players, and another 13 were injured after a transport truck and the bus taking the Humboldt Broncos to a Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League playoff game on April 6 collided at a rural intersection.
The driver of the truck was uninjured. People across Canada and from around the world have opened their hearts and wallets. A GoFundMe campaign for the victims and their families has surpassed $10 million — one of the largest drives ever.
Humboldt’s only florist has received hundreds of orders from as far away as Australia to send flowers to anyone and everyone affected by the crash.
The Canalta Hotel offered free rooms to family members travelling to the small Saskatchewan city after the crash, and provided food and support.
“People were phoning and making reservations and they’re just crying and they can hardly get the words out,’’ said hotel general manager Mary-Jane Wilkinson.
“We’d say don’t worry about a credit card. Don’t worry about anything. We’d just get their name and get them booked in so they have a place to put their heads down.’’
For Wilkinson the accident hit close to home. Her son Richard played hockey in Humboldt from the age of six.
“I’ve taken him to the hockey bus so many times to go on road trips, and put his equipment on buses and dropped him off,’’ she said.
“That was really hard for me because the reality was it could have been my kid.’’
Restaurants have handed out free food.