LLOYDMINSTER, Sask. – Emergency services are still at the scene of a tragic two vehicle collision southeast of Lloydminster, Saskatchewan.
A northbound semi tanker truck hauling crude oil and an eastbound car on Township Road 490 collided around 4:20 a.m. Saturday. Crews were still working to remove the tanker from the slough late Saturday.
“The semi did roll, once it went into the slough it became upside down and sitting on its roof in the slough,” explained Corporal Rob King with Saskatchewan RCMP. “It was not on top of the car. The car was in a separate area, still in the slough and submerged.”
RCMP have now confirmed six people, three females and three males, were killed. It was originally thought seven people had perished in the crash.
All of the victims were travelling in the car which ended up submerged in a slough near the intersection of Highway 17.
Five were declared dead at the scene. The sixth victim died a short time later in hospital.
The victim’s ages range from 13 to 17. Mounties have identified the victims and notified families, but have yet to release any names.
“At this point we don’t believe any of them were related, they were all acquaintances,” King said. “We’re not going to release where they were from or their names right away, until we have permission from the families… Right now, our main concern is gathering evidence, trying to determine what happened, and then trying to assist the families as best we can through such a tragic event.
“I believe all are from Saskatchewan,” King added.
The city’s deputy mayor says everyone in the community has been “shocked and dismayed” by the collision.
“On behalf on everyone here, we’d like to just say that our hearts go out to the families and friends of these young people that have passed on in this tragic accident. And we would just hope that if there’s any comfort, that we’re thinking of them and our prayers go out to all the families,” said Rob Saunders.
The driver of the semi was taken to hospital with undetermined injuries.
The scene is still closed and there will be no access until a RCMP reconstructionist is done gathering evidence. RCMP say the investigation is in its very early stages.
“Right now, we’re on step, maybe, 10 of 5,000. So to determine exactly what the circumstances were in the accident is going to take some time. Possible alcohol use or something like that, we’ll take toxicology results, which take several months to come back,” said King.
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