Broncos death toll now 16 after trainer dies
Toll rises to 16 after 24-year-old dies in hospital
The Humboldt Broncos trainer has died, bringing the number of victims from the tragic bus crash to 16.
Dayna Brons, the only woman on the bus, died in hospital in Saskatoon surrounded “by those she loved and who loved her,” according to her family
The 24-year-old had suffered serious head trauma and had undergone two surgeries. She had been on a ventilator and in an induced coma since Friday’s crash.
“Dayna will be forever remembered for her joyful smile, and her passion and love of sport,” family said.
Brons grew up in Lake Lenore, Sask., not far from Humboldt, watching the hockey team when she wasn’t playing something herself.
Her death comes just as the grim rollout of funerals from this tragedy is about to begin, the first one — for 29-year-old play-by-play commentator Tyler Bieber — on Thursday.
Funerals, masses, vigils and celebrations of life are scheduled to take place in home communities across Saskatchewan and Alberta in the coming days. Among them, a mass Friday for 16-year-old Adam Herold, of Montmartre, Sask., the youngest of the Broncos who would have turned 17 on Thursday, and a celebration of life also Friday for left-winger Jacob Leicht, 19, whose obituary invites those who knew and loved him to come to the Elgar Petersen Arena in Humboldt wearing their hockey jersey or the colour green. “Bring your horns and noisemakers for the final farewell at the end of the service.”
The cause of the crash that killed 10 players, their coach, assistant coach, bus driver, radio announcer Bieber, their statistician and, now, their trainer remains unknown.
However, police revealed Wednesday that black boxlike devices have been recovered from the wreckage of the horrific crash that investigators hope will help piece together exactly what went wrong.
Saskatchewan RCMP said Wednesday vehicle computer data has been recovered and is being analyzed. Police wouldn’t say from which vehicle — the bus, the semi truck, or both — information such as travelling speed has been retrieved. “Hopefully there will be some information that will be valuable,” RCMP spokesman Cpl. Rob King told the Post Wednesday.
“They’re just hoping to get something.”
The 30-year-old driver, and the lone occupant of the semi tractor that slammed into the Broncos bus, was not injured. He had only been working for the trucking company for a month, according to the owner.
Sukhmander Singh, the owner, said Wednesday he is sorry.
“I’m just sorry for everything,” Singh told The Canadian Press. “Tough time for everybody.”
Singh, who has been ordered by Alberta Transportation to keep his only other truck off the road, a standard procedure following such a serious accident, said he’s struggling. “I don’t have work. Everything is shut down,” he told CP.
As the country moves closer to the one-week mark since the crash occurred in broad daylight at the intersection of two small rural highways, thousands were expected to take part Thursday in Jersey Day.
The effort has been organized by a group of British Columbia hockey mothers as a show of solidarity with the victims’ families and the grieving community of Humboldt.
Organizers are asking people who wear a jersey to photograph themselves and post it on social media with #jerseysforhumboldt.
It’s believed that 11 of the 14 people injured in the crash remain in hospital.
King, of the RCMP, said the investigation could roll into the weeks or months. “Nothing is going to happen quick. It takes time.
“There’s a lot of people to talk to — dozens of interview have been done and there are more still to come.”
HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE SOME INFORMATION THAT WILL BE VALUABLE.