Manitoba’s Shared Health says 10 seniors ranging from their early 60s to late 80s remain in hospital with six in critical condition after a highway crash that killed 15 people Thursday morning.
Nine people are receiving care at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg and one person is hospitalized in Brandon, Dr. Shawn Young, CEO of HSC, said at a press conference Friday morning.
Most of the injuries sustained by the 10 were orthopedic and operations have occurred and will continue throughout the day, Young said.
Shared Health CEO Lanette Siragusa told reporters 28 patients were transported from HSC to various parts of the province to make room for incoming victims. HSC declared a Code Orange Thursday afternoon, which is called in hospitals to prepare for a mass-casualty event.
Brandon Regional Health Centre also declared a Code Orange in response to the accident.
Dr. Rob Grierson, chief medical officer of emergency response services for Shared Health, said the tragedy in Humboldt in 2018 provided valuable lessons for casualty responses of this magnitude.
“You prepare for the worst,” he said.
Siragusa said the death toll remains at 15.