Canada - Canadian hockey team fatal bus accident tragedy, 6 April 2018

[bluesneakers]

i am not trying to down play this event as it was very serious, but there are bus crashes like this all the time all over the world,

here is just another random example, that happened only a few days before humboldt, with almost the same amount of fatalities,

https://wtop.com/middle-east/2018/04/kuwait-bus-crash-kills-15-indians-egyptians-and-pakistanis/

this is really a serious question out of curiousity,

why don't tragedies like this one get as much support, news and media coverage as the humboldt crash did? is it just because they were a team and were young?

I think the hockey culture in Canada is a big part of why everyone felt the impact of this particular tragedy. There are sticks on porches up and down my street still and it's not like anyone went out and bought them for this purpose. Players, coaches, trainers, are all familiar with those bus rides and bonding with teammates, and travelling those roads. If I mention "billet family" to my American friends and family they don't know what I'm talking about, but if I mention it to my Canadian friends they all know. In fact many of them have been billet families or sent their son off to live with another family.

Even people not specifically connected to those players, that team, that province still feel a connection.

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

oh yes, and the obvious - hockey is HUGE in Canada.

I have had nothing substantive to add to this thread but really appreciate the posts here and the compassion shown for everyone involved. It's just such a tragedy... Thoughts and healing wishes don't do much good for anyone, but they don't hurt so I'm throwing mine in too. Hugs.

 

[gregjrichards]

It's a common sight on Saskatchewan highways: a vehicle on a side-road moves along the flat horizon toward an intersection you — the driver — are about to pass.

Often one of the drivers has a stop sign. Sometimes the speed limit on both intersecting roads is 100 kilometres-per-hour or more.

Both were the case at the intersection of provincial Highways 35 and 335, where the Humboldt Broncos team bus and a semi-trailer collided south of Nipawin, Sask., killing 16 people.

Now the rural municipality where the crash occurred is asking the province to review how it handles highway intersections.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saska...top-signs-at-100-km-h-intersections-1.4632074

 

[gregjrichards]

Ryan Straschnitzki has suffered through many dark moments this month.

Just three weeks ago, he was a junior hockey player heading for playoffs with the Humboldt Broncos. Now, he's on a tougher journey — learning to live with paralysis from the chest down.

The 19-year-old lost many of his teammates and his coach in the rural Saskatchewan crash on April 6 that killed 16 and injured 12 others.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/ryan-straschnitzki-humboldt-broncos-hockey-crash-1.4632934

You are a very brave young man Ryan. Keep fighting and stay strong.

 

[missy1974]

i am not trying to down play this event as it was very serious, but there are bus crashes like this all the time all over the world,

here is just another random example, that happened only a few days before humboldt, with almost the same amount of fatalities,

https://wtop.com/middle-east/2018/04/kuwait-bus-crash-kills-15-indians-egyptians-and-pakistanis/

this is really a serious question out of curiousity,

why don't tragedies like this one get as much support, news and media coverage as the humboldt crash did? is it just because they were a team and were young?

My opinion... my first thought is because hockey is such a huge sport in Canada, and that would have been the initial 'attraction' to the story. Not everyone loves it, not everyone played organized hockey, but it would be really hard to find someone that didn't play hockey on the street with their friends, or at an outdoor rink in the winter, or at school. For myself, and I know many others... it was that thought that it could have been my son's team, my cousins, my nephews, my brothers, my daughters, my nieces... hockey is just a part of my family, and it was too easy to imagine the moments before that bus crash, young men, and a young lady, going to play a playoff game to "stay alive" in the playoffs (how brutal that sounds now, but that is the way it would have been worded earlier that day).

As for the support... the hockey community is bigger than just Canada... and it has lots of money! There were Canadian companies that support hockey in local communities that stepped up, there were NHL teams that donated, makers of hockey equipment that donated, hockey players that donated. Honestly, we donated the next morning before it had even hit a million and I was happy to see it hit 1 million, more for the kids that survived and will have to deal with life long injuries/changes. To see it hit 15 million ... I was amazed.

I guess I don't know the answer to your question after all... I often wonder why some cases here at websleuth or in the media get more attention than others... I often wonder why some cases grasp me... and others don't. I think it all comes down to if we can relate, and I think in this case, there were thousands... actually, probably millions that could relate.

 

[missy1974]

Ryan Straschnitzki has suffered through many dark moments this month.

Just three weeks ago, he was a junior hockey player heading for playoffs with the Humboldt Broncos. Now, he's on a tougher journey — learning to live with paralysis from the chest down.

The 19-year-old lost many of his teammates and his coach in the rural Saskatchewan crash on April 6 that killed 16 and injured 12 others.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/ryan-straschnitzki-humboldt-broncos-hockey-crash-1.4632934

You are a very brave young man Ryan. Keep fighting and stay strong.

That kid is amazing... I have a feeling he will do great things in his life

gregjrichards... I know his story has touched you probably more than any of the others. You should send him a letter or a card I'm sure if you sent it to the hospital, or to the Humboldt bronco's organization, they would make sure he got it!

 

[Corina]

i am not trying to down play this event as it was very serious, but there are bus crashes like this all the time all over the world,

here is just another random example, that happened only a few days before humboldt, with almost the same amount of fatalities,

https://wtop.com/middle-east/2018/04/kuwait-bus-crash-kills-15-indians-egyptians-and-pakistanis/

this is really a serious question out of curiousity,

why don't tragedies like this one get as much support, news and media coverage as the humboldt crash did? is it just because they were a team and were young?

Tragedies like the one you mention are less common in Canada than in some parts of the world, and so the Humboldt crash hits very hard.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_traffic-related_death_rate

 

[ldlager]

I don’t know much about this stuff, but does anyone think it’s possible that the crash could possibly have been captured on satellite? When they couldn’t find that huge plane a few years ago it kind of made me question whether all the so called satellite surveillance and tracking capability actually exists. But given that the crash was in North America, I would think the satellite coverage is very continuous and comprehensive, and maybe the accident was captured on film. Does anyone have any knowledge or thoughts in this area? Would investigators think to pursue this possibility?

 

[gregjrichards]

Latest hospital update

The number of Humboldt Broncos recovering at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon has dropped to five.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority issued a news release Wednesday relaying that another Broncos player had left the hospital. Due to privacy considerations, the authority did not provide any other details.

On Monday, the authority said six players injured in the April 6 the team bus crash remained in hospital, none of them in critical condition.

Several of the 13 surviving players have been released, while others have been transferred to other hospitals.

http://thestarphoenix.com/news/loca...emain-in-saskatoons-royal-university-hospital

 

[gregjrichards]

I don’t know much about this stuff, but does anyone think it’s possible that the crash could possibly have been captured on satellite? When they couldn’t find that huge plane a few years ago it kind of made me question whether all the so called satellite surveillance and tracking capability actually exists. But given that the crash was in North America, I would think the satellite coverage is very continuous and comprehensive, and maybe the accident was captured on film. Does anyone have any knowledge or thoughts in this area? Would investigators think to pursue this possibility?

I have wondered about this. With MH370 the missing plane there was a reluctance from countries to reveal the extent of their satellite capabilities I don’t know if it is the same with the Canadian government. To be honest I don’t know how much it would help in this investigation the truck didn’t stop at a flashing stop sign and was in the junction in the path of the bus. The reason for this has to be established was it intentional? Was the driver blinded by the sun? Did the brakes on the truck not react fast enough? Did the truck driver see the flashing stop sign? Was the driver of the truck inexperienced driving junctions like this one and he didn’t know what he was supposed to do?

 

[gregjrichards]

A Humboldt Broncos player says a crash that killed 16 people and left him paralyzed has brought the surviving members of his hockey team closer together.

Ryan Straschnitzki, who is 19, sat in a wheelchair as he spoke with reporters at Calgary’s Foothills hospital, where he is undergoing treatment and rehabilitation.

He says he and his teammates text message each other every day as they all try to cope with their injuries and grief.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/jun...layer-paralyzed-crash-says-survivors-bonding/

I’m really glad they are all there for each other.

 

[ldlager]

I have wondered about this. With MH370 the missing plane there was a reluctance from countries to reveal the extent of their satellite capabilities I don’t know if it is the same with the Canadian government. To be honest I don’t know how much it would help in this investigation the truck didn’t stop at a flashing stop sign and was in the junction in the path of the bus. The reason for this has to be established was it intentional? Was the driver blinded by the sun? Did the brakes on the truck not react fast enough? Did the truck driver see the flashing stop sign? Was the driver of the truck inexperienced driving junctions like this one and he didn’t know what he was supposed to do?

Oh I don’t think the Canadian govt would have any data ( I am assuming we rely on the Americans for this sort of stuff) but I bet the USA would! You may be right, but who knows what data is available- maybe we could identify vehicles whose owners have not come forward as witnesses? Etc. Maybe another vehicle was partly the cause? We don’t know. We just assume the truck didn’t stop, but if everyone was sure of that then I imagine the investigation wouldn’t take so long.

 

[tarabull]

I don’t know much about this stuff, but does anyone think it’s possible that the crash could possibly have been captured on satellite? When they couldn’t find that huge plane a few years ago it kind of made me question whether all the so called satellite surveillance and tracking capability actually exists. But given that the crash was in North America, I would think the satellite coverage is very continuous and comprehensive, and maybe the accident was captured on film. Does anyone have any knowledge or thoughts in this area? Would investigators think to pursue this possibility?

Regarding the use of satellite imaging...FWIW...

One year after Thelma Krull disappeared in Winnipeg, LE reported she may have actually been abducted & released satellite images of the park the day she was last seen there.

It's reported on here: https://globalnews.ca/news/2816715/winnipeg-police-say-its-possible-thelma-krull-was-abducted/

Thelma is still missing tho & here's her thread:
CANADA Canada - Thelma Krull, 58, Winnipeg MB, 11 July 2015

#HumboldtStrong

:candle:

 

[puppyraiser]

Humboldt survivor has breakthrough...

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/juniors/humboldt-survivor-breakthrough-support-continues-pour/

Small breakthrough but movement in the toes is one step forward. This young man truly amazes me!

 

[ldlager]

Humboldt survivor has breakthrough...

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/juniors/humboldt-survivor-breakthrough-support-continues-pour/

Small breakthrough but movement in the toes is one step forward. This young man truly amazes me!

Wonderful news! Praying for more in the days and weeks ahead.

 

[CoolJ]

Regarding the use of satellite imaging...FWIW...

One year after Thelma Krull disappeared in Winnipeg, LE reported she may have actually been abducted & released satellite images of the park the day she was last seen there.

It's reported on here: https://globalnews.ca/news/2816715/winnipeg-police-say-its-possible-thelma-krull-was-abducted/

Thelma is still missing tho & here's her thread:
CANADA Canada - Thelma Krull, 58, Winnipeg MB, 11 July 2015

#HumboldtStrong

:candle:

Interesting. I have never seen authorities admit to having access to live satellite imagery.... very peculiar

 

[gregjrichards]

It’s still very difficult to know all these wonderful people are no longer with us.

I’m very pleased Ryan has been able to move his toes I really hope he continues to make progress.

 

[tarabull]

Francis: Straschnitzki offers advice on how to split GoFundMe Broncos money
April 27, 2018

http://calgaryherald.com/sports/hoc...oney/wcm/0b9298ba-b7da-4458-9be5-4f74b9b35452

 

[gregjrichards]

Latest news updates

One person involved in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash has been released from Saskatoon hospital, according to the Saskatchewan Health Authority.
The SHA said four victims remain in hospital as of Monday morning.

https://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/one-more-humboldt-broncos-crash-victim-released-from-hospital-1.3908626

Saskatchewan plans to hire a private consulting firm to do a safety assessment of an intersection north of Tisdale where a hockey team bus collision killed 16 people.

The Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team was travelling to a playoff game on April 6 when it collided with a tractor-trailer.

The crash occurred where Highway 35 meets a secondary highway at a spot known as Armley Corner.

Rural politicians have previously called for changes at the intersection, saying it’s dangerous.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/can...ivate-consulting-firm-to-assess-intersection/

Tom and Michelle Straschnitzki have seen the best in people over the last three weeks as their son has worked to recover after being paralyzed in a crash between his hockey team’s bus and a transport truck.


On Monday, they also saw the worst.

Tom Straschnitzki said he woke up early and was alerted on Twitter that someone using Ryan‘s name had set up a fake account and was seeking money for a GoFundMe campaign.

https://globalnews.ca/news/4177994/humboldt-broncos-ryan-straschnitzki-fake-funsraiser/

Absolutely disgusting! Ryan and his parents have enough to deal with.

 

[ldlager]

https://www.thestar.com/news/canada...ess-safety-of-broncos-crash-intersection.html

foot dragging and cya by the province. In the meantime, everyone waits for answers.