‘People are dying’: Manitoba RCMP ramp up patrol near deadly intersection

Manitoba RCMP were out on the highways over the long weekend, but one area in particular ended up bringing in a staggering amount of tickets.

Mounties said because of the recent influx in fatal collisions in the intersection of Highway 16 and the Trans-Canada Highway, they decided on a very targeted patrol.

READ MORE: Small Manitoba town mourning devastating loss of father and 2 young sons

They started patrol on Aug. 28 and carried on until the end of the Labour Day Long Weekend on Sept. 4.

“We had 70 patrolling hours and we had 199 tickets written,” Tara Seel with the Manitoba RCMP said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We had 70 patrolling hours and we had 199 tickets written," Tara Seel with the Manitoba RCMP said.

A father and his two young sons died on Aug. 21 in the intersection after being hit by a semi truck. Just seven days later, on Aug. 28, two teenagers died in another collision in the intersection of Highway 1 and 16.

READ MORE: 2 teens dead after crash with semi on Manitoba highway west of Portage la Prairie

“Ultimately one death is one too many,” Seel said. “We say that and it sounds like a line but it’s not.”

Seel said officers are having to knock on too many doors to tell people their loved ones are not coming home.

“There’s empty spots at the dinner table. People are dying.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "There's empty spots at the dinner table. People are dying."

While out patrolling the area, officers put in 70 policing hours, according to RCMP. Mounties said during those 70 hours, the disturbing part was that some drivers are not noticing — or not obeying — the change in speed to 80 km/h as they approach the deadly intersection.

While there are warning signs of the speed change and a flashing light, officers hope the newly installed board telling drivers the speed they’re travelling will catch drivers’ attention.