A bus carrying a Canadian swim team was involved in a collision on Thursday on a snowy highway in Canada, with several individuals being injured and transported to a hospital.
Swimmers from Club aquatique régional Abitibi-Témiscamingue (CARAT) team in Val-d’Or, Quebec were travelling to the Quebec Junior cup in Blainville, Quebec when their bus collided with a heavy truck on Highway 117 around 3:45 when the driver of the bus reportedly lost control.
A local health agency reports that at least 10 minors between the ages of 11 and 17 were being cared for at the Mont-Laurier hospital on Thursday evening. A coach was seriously injured, according to Francis Ménard, director of the Quebec swimming federation. Some members of the team were transferred approximately 240 kilometers (150 miles) to Montreal for further care.
“Our thoughts are with all those affected by this incident,” the federation said. “We are aware that this situation can emotionally impact our athletes and coaches, especially during this competition time.”
The club posted a message on Friday morning saying that the remaining team members will be swimming in honor of their injured teammates.
Quebec was hit by its biggest snowstorm of the season earlier this week, with some parts seeing up to 40 cm (16 inches) of snow. Police have not yet said if the snow was a factor, though the federation encouraged caution for teams travelling to the meet that begins on Thursday.
My coach used to coach in the same area and know them. Hope for a speedy recovery! God bless!
Oh no!! Hope everyone recovers to full health soon!!
Vehicles can be dangerous. I hope everyone returns back to normal health soon.
Oh no!! Sending love and support from the United States. This is terrible and we share your grief! At the end of the day, we are all on the same team, going through the same journey…you’ve got this.
Just a head’s up, doesn’t signal a ton of love and support when you vote in a leader that sanctions us and tells us we’re not worth being a country
I find the current political situation in the United States and this comment both heartbreaking.
Please know that many Americans (myself included) did not vote for Trump, and find his actions as repugnant as you do.
Thank you Pete, I was in the bus accident and it is great to hear message like this.