9 people killed in collisions on Sask. highways; 4 children left orphaned

MOOSOMIN, Sask. – Four young brothers from a Winnipeg family are now orphans following a collision on a Saskatchewan highway between a car and a minivan.

Marcel and Brenda Dubois, both 38, died Sunday when a Honda Civic trying to pass another vehicle crashed into their minivan on the Yellowhead Highway southeast of Yorkton.

The car’s 17-year-old female driver from Yorkton was also killed.

The RCMP say the road was covered with snow and visibility was reduced.

In another crash on a snowy highway, four young men – two cousins and their friends – died when their pickup truck collided with an SUV near Moosomin.

A 50-year-old woman and her 26-year-old son – both from the Cowessess First Nation – were also killed.

The lone survivor was her 23-year-old son, who was in critical condition in a Regina hospital.

After the crash near Yorkton, two of the brothers were taken to a local hospital for treatment while two others were in a Regina hospital in critical condition.

Their oldest brother, Jordan, 19, said he has spoken to most of his brothers from their hospital beds in Saskatchewan. He said the family was headed home to Manitoba from a tai-kwon-do tournment.

"They did really good in the tournament," he said. "They were supposed to come home with four gold, two silver and one bronze, I believe."

Their aunt, Lee-Anne Matthews, said Jordan is trying to figure out a way to get to Saskatchewan to be with his brothers.

"The kids out there are having a really hard time," she said. "We’re just trying to figure out how to get everybody together."

Jordan said his nine-year-old brother, Dustin, is in some pain but will be fine; Michael, 16, has a small tear in his spleen; and Matthew, 13, has injuries to his head, collarbone and pelvis.

Unfortunately, although his 14-year-old brother Jarrett has already undergone surgery, Jordan is being told that he will likely be left paralyzed from the waist down.

In the other crash, the four men in the pickup truck were all from Rocanville, Sask. The driver was 21 and his passengers were two 18-year-olds and a 20-year-old.

"It happened so suddenly," said Rocanville Mayor Daryl Fingas. "With a small community, it hit everybody really hard. They all went to school here and played hockey together. It was tragic for everyone."

No names have been released.