The small city of Humboldt in Saskatchewan, Canada, is reeling after a junior hockey team’s bus was involved in a deadly accident with a semi-truck. Fifteen were killed when the semi slammed into the team’s bus. Along with these fifteen, another fourteen were also injured, some left in critical condition.
Among those killed in this crash were the Humboldt Broncos head coach Darcy Haugan, team captain Logan Schatz and radio announcer Tyler Bieber. Families and friends have left memorials around the arena. Flowers, pictures, and jerseys are among the items that people have left to remember the team as the city mourns the loss.
USAToday has reported on the incident and provided information from the police officers involved. USAToday reports that “Canadian police said the truck driver, who was not hurt, was initially detained but has since been released and provided with mental health assistance. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Assistant Commissioner Curtis Zablocki said it’s too early to state a cause for the crash. Photographs of the wreckage showed the twisted trailer with most of its wheels in the air and the bus on its side with its back portion destroyed. The force of the crash sent both vehicles into the ditch at the northwest corner of the intersection.”
One of the Broncos defenseman Ryan Straschnitzki survived the crash. He is paralyzed from the incident, but it hasn’t hindered his determination to do what he loves. Since learning this life changing news, Straschnitzki has shown an interest in playing in the para-Olympics on the Canadian team. Cody Thompson, Straschnitzki’s boxing coach has also started a "StrazStrong” campaign to raise money for his recovery efforts.
