Man found outside car crashed in ditch on Boxing Day dies

RCMP say victim taken to hospital with what appeared to be hypothermia

A 19-year-old man found on the outskirts of Saskatoon suffering from what appeared to be hypothermia died in hospital on Boxing Day.

Another 19-year-old man, believed to have been in the same vehicle as the first man when it crashed into a ditch, was found hours earlier and taken to a Saskatoon hospital, also suffering from what appeared to be hypothermia, RCMP said.

According to RCMP on Friday, members of the Warman detachment responded Thursday around 4 a.m. to reports of a man walking in the middle of Highway 11 between Corman Park Industrial Road and Warman. A 19-year-old man “who appeared to be suffering from hypothermia” was located and EMS transported him to Saskatoon hospital, RCMP said.

During their ensuing investigation, officers found the 19-year-old man’s vehicle in the west ditch of the southbound lane on Highway 11. While conducting a search of the area, officers around 6:30 a.m. found another 19-year-old man away from the vehicle who also appeared to be suffering from hypothermia. As an ambulance was dispatched, officers carried the man to their police vehicle and placed him inside to warm him and provide first aid until the ambulance arrived at the scene. He was transported to hospital, where he died around 1:40 p.m.

The investigation into the initial crash and the vehicle entering the ditch is ongoing.

According to RCMP, “as officers

As officers were unsure how many people may have been ... in the vehicle, a thorough search of the area was conducted.

were unsure how many people may have been travelling in the vehicle, a thorough search of the area was conducted” with assistance from the RCMP police dog services, Saskatoon fire department and Saskatoon police air unit.

No one else was found during the search, RCMP said. An autopsy date has not been determined. The Star Phoenix