‘A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT, MY GOD’
Fatalities, injuries in collision involving Humboldt Broncos bus
Members of the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team are shown in a picture posted to the team Twitter feed, @HumboldtBroncos, last month after a playoff win over the rival Melfort Mustangs. RCMP said Friday they were at the scene of a fatal collision involving a transport truck and a bus carrying the Broncos northeast of Saskatoon.
Families and friends of Edmonton-area players on the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team awaited news from their loved ones Friday night after a horrifying bus crash in Saskatchewan.
Seven of the team’s players are from northern Alberta or the Edmonton area: left-winger Conner Lukan from Slave Lake, centre Jaxon Joseph from Edmonton, centre Tyler Smith from Leduc, rightwinger Logan Hunter from St. Albert, centre Derek Patter from Edmonton, defenceman Stephen Wack from St. Albert and goalie Parker Tobin from Stony Plain.
On Twitter, Rhonda Clarke Tobin, the goaltender’s mother, said her son was being airlifted to Saskatoon hospital in stable condition.
RJ Patter replied on Twitter that his son, Derek Patter, was also in stable condition and being airlifted to Saskatoon.
There was no confirmation from RCMP on the number or identity of the dead and injured, only that there were multiple fatalities and injuries. A 9:15 p.m. update from RCMP said emergency crews were still at work. Three air ambulances were dispatched to the scene.
Parents and family members looking for information may contact 306-752-8700. Parents and families may also go to the Apostolic Church in Nipawin. The crash happened on Highway 35 near Highway 335 as the team was headed to play the Nipawin Hawks.
Darren Opp, president of the Hawks, said a semi truck T-boned the Broncos bus.
“It’s a horrible accident, my God,” he said. “It’s very, very bad.”
Pastor Jordan Gadsby at the Apostolic Church in Nipawin said more than 100 people gathered at the church — including parents and grandparents of players who were on the bus.
“Lots of them are waiting for information,” he said. “Some of the families have gotten information and have gone to be with their kids. Some of them are waiting to hear if their kids are alive.”
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley tweeted out her condolences on Friday night. The highway was expected to be blocked for several hours. In 1986, four members of the Swift Current Broncos hockey team died in a bus crash.