It was surreal": a violent collision between a truck and a minibus kills at least 15 people in Canada

At least 15 people died and 10 others were injured on Thursday in an accident between a tractor-trailer and a minibus carrying elderly people in central Canada, according to police.

 

The semi-trailer and minibus collided at the intersection of two highways about two hours from Winnipeg - Manitoba's capital city - at around midday.

 

Ten people were taken to hospital with various injuries," said Rob Hill of the Manitoba Provincial Police, where the accident occurred. A total of 25 people were in the minibus, "mainly elderly people", he added. "The toll could rise overnight. »

 

The minibus was hit by the semi as it crossed the lanes, police described, adding that an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the accident. "It was really, really surreal to see the scale of the accident. I'd never seen anything like it," Nirmesh Vadera, who arrived nearby shortly after the incident, described to AFP. 

 

According to the man, who works in a freeway hotel-restaurant and was contacted by telephone by AFP, numerous emergency vehicles were on site, as were two helicopters. Dozens of people were deployed at the scene. A semi-trailer could be seen lying on the side of the road, and a little further on a van was in flames, he said, describing a lot of smoke. "The news out of Carberry, Manitoba is tragic," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Twitter. "I offer my deepest condolences to those who lost loved ones today, and the injured are in my thoughts. I can't imagine the pain you're feeling, but Canadians are here for you," he added.