Families get trauma support after wagon incident
REGINA Crisis teams are assisting families at Ochapowace First Nation after a crash involving a horsedrawn wagon injured 15 people, many of them children.
According to an RCMP news release, Esterhazy RCMP responded to the incident at about 8:30 p.m. Thursday. The crash happened on a grid road just off of Highway 247 in the Round Lake area.
Police have determined that two horses pulling a wagon carrying several youths became spooked and broke into a gallop, resulting in the wagon crossing a ditch and coming to a sudden stop amid some trees. The wagon did not overturn, but the sudden stop resulted in injuries to the passengers.
According to the Saskatchewan Health Authority, 15 people were treated at hospital. Nine people have now been discharged, and six remain in hospital. The health authority said none of the injuries were life-threatening.
Police said STARS Air Ambulance responded to the scene for one potentially serious injury.
The wagon ride was part of an activity during the final day of the McKay Camp, an annual familyoriented camp put on by Ochapowace Nation in the Qu’Appelle Valley. The wagon was returning to the camp when the crash happened.
Denise Beaudin, the interim director of operations for Ochapowace Nation, said the wagon was carrying approximately 18 youths and a couple of adults. She said the crash sent several youth flying from the wagon.
Beaudin said the youths’ ages ranged from about six to 14 years old. The health authority was unable to confirm how many of the people sent to hospital were youth. Beaudin said trauma and mentalhealth services are being provided for families.
She visited the scene of the crash that night.
“By the time I got there, there were still some families that were visibly upset — but again, the health staff were there talking to them, consoling them, calming them down,” Beaudin said.
On Friday, staff members continued to debrief families on the situation. A neighbouring community has sent in a trauma team to assist. Beaudin said about 200 people were attending the camp.
“It’s a way of bringing them together, bonding with them, building that community spirit,” Beaudin said.
Beaudin said the First Nation has been able to adequately respond to the incident thanks to many community members who have been trained in CPR, as well as staff who have received training in crisis mental health.