Manitoba crash investigation could take months: RCMP

The investigation into a crash in Manitoba that left 15 people dead could take quite some time to complete.

The Manitoba RCMP held a news conference Monday to update the public on the investigation into the deadly crash involving a bus and a semi trailer. Rob Lasson, the officer in charge of Major Crime Services for the Manitoba RCMP, said the work has already begun, but is expected to take months.

“The autopsies of the deceased have started,” Lasson told a media conference in Winnipeg.

The RCMP has also begun a mechanical analysis of both vehicles involved in the crash, Lasson added, but it could take some time before any answers are revealed.

“This takes time, and we don’t anticipate having these accurate answers for a number of weeks or months,” said Lasson.

The driver of the passenger bus is still being cared for in hospital and hasn’t been questioned by police yet, Lasson noted. Last week it was revealed that the semi driver had the right of way at the time of the collision.

Lasson said this is the most complex and difficult type of investigation to do.

“Oftentimes, in these types of scenes it’s very difficult to gather evidence, because normally we have numerous eyewitnesses,” Lasson explained. “In this case, we don’t. All the witnesses were in the bus.”

It is still unknown if the passenger bus was equipped with seatbelts.

Lanette Siragusa, CEO of Manitoba Shared Health, was able to offer an update on the victims of the crash who are still in hospital.

“As of this morning 10 people continue to be in hospital. Six are women and four are men, with their ages ranging from their 60s to their 80s,” said Siragusa. “Five of these patients remain in critical care, while a sixth was moved to a step-down unit.”

Manitoba’s Premier Heather Stefanson said that after any accident or incident on Manitoba’s highways, there is an internal review conducted. She said that review is taking place right now.

In Saskatchewan, the crash has brought back memories of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018, which left 16 dead.