In a tragic single-vehicle accident, five lives were lost on Saturday afternoon. The Swan River RCMP are conducting the investigation into this mournful incident.
The horrifying event occurred on September 30th, around 5 p.m. Emergency crews were mobilized in response to a reported vehicle rollover on Highway 83, a stone’s throw from the Saskatchewan border, near Swan River.
On reaching the scene, the officers encountered an unsettling sight: a capsized SUV, which lay in the ditch, having been overturned into a field. The vehicle, carrying five occupants, had veered off track and into this unfortunate fate.
As per RCMP’s Sgt. Paul Manaigre, the SUV seemingly veered off-road, instigating the tragic outcome. The orientation of the vehicle indicated that it was travelling northbound when it swerved off course. Preliminary suspicions attribute excessive speed as a potentially contributing factor in the mishap.
The severity of the crash left a profound impact on the emergency response team. The devastating loss of life was rendered even more mournful given the single-vehicle nature of the rollover. Among the deceased were two women, ages 42 and 26, and three men, ages 37, 36, and 25. Notably, none were found secured by seatbelts, and all had been thrown out of the vehicle in the crash.
Swan Valley West’s reeve, Bill Gade, informed that he received news about the mishap around half an hour after the incident. His immediate response was one of disbelief and dismay. The unfortunate accident was a grim reminder of a similar tragedy involving a fatal crash near Carberry, Manitoba in June, which resulted in the demise of 17 seniors.
Regrettably, all the victims in the latest accident hailed from Swan River. An air of melancholy hangs over the town with the loss of these lives. The RCMP has reported as many as 89 highway fatalities this year in Manitoba, showing a steep rise from 61 at the same time last year. A sobering reminder for everyone to maintain vigilance and caution while driving, says Manaigre.
To aid in the crash investigation, an RCMP forensic collision reconstructionist has been deployed on-site. The ongoing investigation will strive to uncover more details about this tragic accident. Through this unfortunate event, a stinging reminder echoes loud and clear – the safety of oneself and others is of paramount importance when behind the wheel.
