By paNOW Staff

Chain reaction crash kills 3 teens

May 4, 2015 | 11:12 AM

Three teenage boys are dead after a four-vehicle crash on Highway 6 Sunday afternoon – one of four fatal crashes in the province this past weekend.

The crash happened south of Spalding at a construction site around 4:20 p.m. A flagperson was on the road where a Cavalier was stopped behind a Dodge pick-up truck. As they waited for their turn to proceed through the construction zone, a semi driving north on the highway slammed into the back of the Cavalier. The Cavalier then hit the Dodge, which hit the 21-year-old man working as the flagperson. The Dodge also hit the pilot vehicle, which had a driver inside at the time.

The Dodge and the pilot vehicle came to rest in the west ditch.

Three teenage boys from Carrot River were in the Cavalier, aged 14, 15 and 17. All three were pronounced dead at the scene. 

The 21-year-old flagperson, a man from B.C., was airlifted to hospital in Saskatoon. The 48-year-old Manitoba man driving the Dodge, the 19-year-old Alberta man driving the pilot vehicle, and the 38-year-old Manitoba man driving the semi all sustained minor injuries and were treated at the Melfort hospital.

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While the families of the teens killed have been notified, RCMP say no names are being released. The highway has been reopened.

The three teens killed were students at the Carrot River Jr. Sr. High School, according to the North East School Division.

“We have a tragic response team that was dispatched there first thing this morning. The superintendent that is responsible for that school is also there,” Rob McKay, superintendent of operations, said. 

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and the community.”

Carrot River Mayor Bob Gagne said the whole community is in shock. 

“You can’t help—every business place you go to, that’s the first thing we talk about. You have to remember this is a very small community of 1,000 people. If you are not related to one of the boys, you know them because of their activities in the community,” he said over the phone.

The boys were members of the Wildcats football team and had many friends. 

“When you lose three young, vibrant, energetic boys like that — that are in the prime of their youth, it’s very hard on the community.”

The Carrot River fire department has opened up the fire hall and is hosting a barbecue.  Community members are invited to come down and share their thoughts and stories.

This is one of four fatal crashes that happened in Saskatchewan over the weekend. The crashes left seven people dead and nine others hurt.

The first happened late Saturday afternoon when a vehicle rolled on the Okanese First Nation. A 20-year-old man was thrown from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other people were in the vehicle and were taken to hospital in Regina. A fourth person had been in the vehicle and was found later.

Then, a 15-year-old girl was killed in a crash north of Swift Current around 5:30 a.m. Sunday. A 16-year-old girl who was driving the vehicle and an 18-year-old passenger were taken to hospital in Saskatoon. 

Lastly, two people were killed in a crash near Estevan. It happened on Highway 18 around 9:15 a.m. A vehicle caught fire as it collided with a semi that was hauling fertilizer. Both people inside the vehicle were pronounded dead at the scene. The semi driver was treated for minor injuries.

panews@jpbg.ca

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