Remembering a pair of Carberry bus crash victims

As support continues to pour into the community of Dauphin, we’re learning more about those who were killed in the fatal crash near Carberry, Man. on June 15th.

The Dauphin and District Community Foundation has established the Support Seniors Fund to offer an easy way for those wishing to provide support to community members.

Life-long resident Peter Dawidowich is still processing the tragedy. Like many in the community of more than 8,000 he has a direct link to the crash. His cousin Dianne Medwid, was one of the 16 people killed.

Peter Dawidowich, life-long Dauphin resident and relative of crash victim Dianna Medwid. (Photo Credit: Mike Sudoma, CityNews)

“She was a good person. We talked every once in a while, friends on Facebook and it’s just sad, and I just feel for her kids and stuff, she had a loss just recently too, and it’s just sad, it’s sad all the way around,” he explained.

Dawidowich says Medwid loved to travel and would regularly keep her friends and family updated on her Facebook page and they’re updates he says he’ll miss.

Dianne Medwid, 70, was one of the people killed in the June 15th crash near Carberry, Man. (Supplied/RCMP)

The seniors travelling on the bus involved in the collision were from various senior residences in the community of Dauphin, including St. George’s Place.

“A lot of people, I just think in shock, and I think they will be for a while yet,” said Dawidowich. “I’m doing deliveries to people around town here and people are in mourning. I think a lot of people are still in shock, I’m still in shock.”

The building’s manager Milton Mykolaishyn, says the entire community is hurting, as three people killed in the crash, including his relative Donna Showdra, lived at the complex.

Donna Showdra, 79, was one of the people killed in the June 15th crash near Carberry, Man. (Supplied/RCMP)

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“In a seniors complex, you get used to it, people coming and going, but with this – it could have been controlled, either a better intersection – but we won’t know until the investigation is over,” said Mykolaishyn.

He says Showdra loved to knit, garden and was an avid sports fan who is being dearly missed. He says he never thought anything like this would happen to the tight-knit city.

“No. Never thought. You always hear somewhere else, it happens, but not in Dauphin.”

The air was heavy with sadness at some of the homes where these people lived, in some cases, family members on site removing their loved one’s possessions. One neighbour at Vermillion East, says the strength the families are showing is helping those in mourning.

Speaking to CityNews, a neighbour at Vermillion East says she’ll be thinking about those lost in the crash all summer. (Photo Credit: Mike Sudoma, CityNews)

“They’re keeping us strong too, they’re just helping us to move forward as well.”

She says the loss is just massive and being felt by so many.

“At my age, I’ve lost so many of my friends already, and to lose so many at once, I’m going to be struggling with this all summer, I know.”

She says the community itself is extremely strong, and it’s the community support that is keeping people going, and when asked if the community will ever be the same, she wasn’t sure.