Carman RCMP are reporting that two people have died, including a seven-year-old Winnipeg girl, as the result of a recent multi-vehicle collision near Fannystelle, Manitoba.
On July 2, 2020, at approximately 11:50am, Carman RCMP responded to a multi-vehicle collision on Highway 2, approximately three kilometres east of Fannystelle, Manitoba.
Initial police investigation determined that a number of vehicles were stopped at a marked construction zone in the eastbound lane on Highway 2. The vehicles were waiting for direction to safely drive through when an eastbound semi with trailer, failed to stop and drove into the lineup of stopped vehicles.
In total, eight vehicles were involved in the collision, including two semis with trailers, five passenger vehicles and one motorcycle.
RCMP report that a seven-year-old girl from Winnipeg, and a 61-year-old RM of St. Andrews man were pronounced deceased at the scene. The 7-year-old was in one of the passenger vehicles and the 61-year-old man was driving the motorcycle.
Fifteen people in total were injured in the collision, with several being treated at the scene and released. Six people were taken to hospital, including two adults, two children under 16 years of age and two children under three years of age. One adult, and the two children under three years of age, have since been released. A 22-year-old woman, a 14-year-old female youth and a 10-year-old female girl remain in hospital with serious injuries.
Police say that the driver of the semi truck, a 56-year-old Saskatchewan man, was arrested at the scene. He is facing two counts of dangerous operation of a conveyance causing death, two counts of criminal negligence causing death, and three counts of dangerous operation of a conveyance causing bodily harm. He is currently in custody.
Carman RCMP continue to investigate this incident, along with the Criminal Collision Investigation Team, a Forensic Collision Reconstructionist and a Provincial Motor Carrier Enforcement Officer.
Update
RCMP report that on July 3, 2020, the driver of the semi truck, 56-year-old James Randell of Shellbrook Saskatchewan, was charged with two counts of dangerous operation of a conveyance causing death, two counts of criminal negligence causing death, and three counts of dangerous operation of a conveyance causing bodily harm. He was remanded into custody and appeared in court in Winnipeg, on July 6, 2020.
The 22-year-old female and the 14-year-old female remain in hospital with serious injuries. The 10-year-old female has been released from hospital. All three were traveling in a van with four other occupants, a 26-year-old female driver, two children under three years of age, and the seven-year-old female who was pronounced deceased at the scene.
