At least 12 people were killed in vehicle crashes in a two-week span, prompting a plea for Manitobans to take care on the roads and avoid high-risk driving behaviours.
The grim toll includes three people who died in related collisions on Highway 6 Monday — a head-on crash involving a handi-van and the other involving people who became stranded waiting for the route to reopen.
One of the victims was identified as Marybelle Yetman, 23, who lived in Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation in northern Manitoba.
“Marybelle’s beautiful bright spirit will be remembered by all who knew her,” NCN Chief Angela Levasseur and council said in a statement. “Marybelle’s large, close-knit, loving family fondly remembers her as ‘the baby’ and the ‘apple of her father’s eye,’ she was a true ‘daddy’s girl.’
“Marybelle was a wonderful mother of two beautiful twin girls and a handsome son. She was a caring and special daughter, sibling, friend, and relative, as well as a devoted partner to Devon Hart.”
RCMP spokeswoman Tara Seel said 36 people have died in 32 collisions in RCMP jurisdiction so far in 2024, compared with 78 deaths during the same period in 2023.
The five-year average from Jan. 1 to Aug. 7 is 49 deaths.
“Our condolences go out to the families and friends and loved ones who have lost someone in these collisions,” said Seel.
”Marybelle’s beautiful bright spirit will be remembered”–NCN Chief Angela Levasseur
In Winnipeg, 15 people have died in collisions this year, a city police spokeswoman said. The Winnipeg Police Service reported eight fatalities in 2023 and 28 in 2022.
Seel said fatal collisions have far-reaching impacts on victims’ families and friends, and on police officers who respond or inform next-of-kin.
“When you have to go knock on someone’s door and tell them their loved one is never coming home, you can never really put that away,” she said. “That stays with you your whole career and beyond.”
Impaired driving, speeding, distracted driving or non-use of seatbelts are common factors in crashes in Manitoba.
“These are the high-risk driving behaviours that we’re seeing that are leading to deaths on the roads,” said Seel.
She urged people to drive sober, slow down, stay focused and wear a seatbelt.
“We all must do our part,” she said.
RCMP continue to investigate the crashes on Highway 6.
”When you have to go knock on someone’s door and tell them their loved one is never coming home…. That stays with you your whole career and beyond”–Manitoba RCMP spokeswoman Tara Seel
The first happened at about 3:30 p.m. Monday, when a northbound SUV crossed the centre line and collided with a southbound minivan, which was operating as a handi-van, about 40 kilometres south of Grand Rapids, said police.
Yetman, the front passenger in the SUV, died at the scene. The SUV’s 23-year-old male passenger was not seriously injured, said RCMP.
NCN said a young female underwent surgery after suffering extensive injuries, and a young male passenger was released from hospital after being airlifted to Winnipeg.
The minivan’s front passenger, a 42-year-old Mosakahiken Cree Nation woman, died after being taken to Grand Rapids’ nursing station, said RCMP.
The driver — a 53-year-old Winnipeg man — and a passenger suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
RCMP advised motorists the highway would remain closed for a lengthy period. Many opted to turn around, said police.
When the highway reopened at 11 p.m., a northbound SUV had a drained battery from the long wait and would not start, said RCMP. The driver of a northbound pickup truck turned around and pulled up behind the SUV to help.
As the vehicles’ occupants stood outside, a northbound van pulling a loaded trailer crashed into the back of the pickup, which was pushed into the SUV. The SUV then struck two men from The Pas who had been in that vehicle.
A 33-year-old man died at the scene. A 36-year-old man was not seriously injured, said police.
This year, six people have been killed in four crashes on Highway 6, which extends between Thompson and the Perimeter Highway on Winnipeg’s outskirts.
One fatality was reported in both 2022 and 2023, said Seel.
The Safer Highway 6 Citizens Advisory Group has called for improvements, including more passing lanes, rest stops and wider shoulders, on the northern part of the route.
Group member and Thompson resident Volker Beckmann said several factors, including fatigue from journeys that last up to 10 hours, compromise safety on northern Manitoba’s main highway, which is about 740 kilometres long.
He said many residents are scared to use the highway, especially during the winter months, but have no choice.
The group has presented its recommendations to the NDP and Progressive Conservatives in recent years.
“It should be something adopted by any political party in terms of reducing accidents and deaths,” said Beckmann.
Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor is attending a northern transportation symposium in Thompson in September, when Beckmann will give a presentation on the group’s concerns and recommendations.
”We want a system that’s safe for how people actually drive, not how they are supposed to drive.”–Transportation Minister Lisa Naylor
Naylor said Highway 6 is a priority for the NDP government.
“It’s a terrible tragedy,” she said of Monday’s fatal collisions. “I’m horrified by the loss of life for anybody on our highway network.”
The province created a road safety unit, tasked with reviewing the network for safety improvements, in response to a crash that killed 17 seniors near Carberry last year.
“We want a system that’s safe for how people actually drive, not how they are supposed to drive,” said Naylor.
More than $100 million has been set aside for projects on Highway 6 in the province’s five-year infrastructure plan, including reconstruction of two stretches that are 14.3 km and 16.5 km in length, respectively.
Temporary toilets and garbage bins were installed at the Devils Lake rest area and a new location near Williams River before the May long weekend.
chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca
Chris Kitching
Reporter
Chris Kitching is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He began his newspaper career in 2001, with stops in Winnipeg, Toronto and London, England, along the way. After returning to Winnipeg, he joined the Free Press in 2021, and now covers a little bit of everything for the newspaper. Read more about Chris.
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History
Updated on Wednesday, August 7, 2024 5:36 PM CDT: Adds details, quotes, photo
