Coroner's office misidentified victim in Humboldt hockey bus crash
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Justice announced Monday that the province's coroner's office misidentified one of the 15 people killed last week in the highway crash involving a junior hockey team bus.
The ministry announced that Parker Tobin, 18, has died and that Xavier Labelle, who previously had been identified as among the deceased, is alive.
The coroner's office apologized for "the misidentification and any confusion created by it." The ministry did not say how the error occurred.
"Our condolences go out to the family of Parker Tobin," the ministry's statement said. "Unfortunately, Parker is one of the 15 that have lost their lives in this terrible tragedy. Parker had been misidentified and was previously believed to have survived."
Both Tobin and Labelle were members of the Humboldt Broncos team. The deceased also include coach Darcy Haugan, bus driver Glen Doerksen and nine other players.
The Broncos were en route to a playoff game Friday when a truck carrying peat moss collided with their bus. The players were between the ages of 16 and 21. Fourteen people were injured in the crash.
The coroner's office also extended "its deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those who lost their lives as well as those who were involved in the collision."
Labelle's father, Paul Labelle, told the Saskatoon Star Phoenix on Saturday that he arrived at the scene of the crash along with his wife and daughter.
Paul Labelle, an emergency room physician, told the Star Phoenix that after initially trying to assist police at the scene, he and his family continued on their trip to Nipawin, where the Broncos were scheduled to play their playoff game later Friday night.
The Labelle family told the paper that they eventually were informed that Xavier, 18, had died in the crash. Paul said Saturday that the family was "numb right now," while his wife, Tanya, told the paper that they were "devastated."
Monday's news came one day after the Humboldt community mourned the deceased during a vigil at the Broncos' home arena. Team president Kevin Garinger choked back tears as he read out the names of the 15 dead. People embraced each other, crying. Tissue boxes were passed down rows. Flowers ringed the team logo at center ice. Pictures of the dead and injured were placed in front of the audience.
Team captain Logan Schatz, forwards Jaxon Joseph, Evan Thomas, Jacob Leicht, Logan Hunter and Conner Lukan, and defensemen Stephen Wack, Adam Herold and Logan Boulet were also among the dead, according to family members and others. Assistant coach Mark Cross, radio announcer Tyler Bieber and stats keeper Brody Hinz, who was 18, were also killed.
Nick Shumlanski, an injured player who was released from the hospital, attended the vigil wearing his white, green and yellow team jersey, with a bruise under his left eye.
Coroner misidentified victim
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Justice announced Monday that the province's coroner's office misidentified one of the 15 people killed last week in the highway crash involving a junior hockey team bus.
The ministry announced that Parker Tobin, 18, has died and that Xavier Labelle, who previously had been identified as among the deceased, is alive.
The coroner's office apologized for "the misidentification and any confusion created by it." The ministry did not say how the error occurred.
"Our condolences go out to the family of Parker Tobin," the ministry's statement said. "Unfortunately, Parker is one of the 15 that have lost their lives in this terrible tragedy. Parker had been misidentified and was previously believed to have survived."
Both Tobin and Labelle were members of the Humboldt Broncos team. The deceased also include coach Darcy Haugan, bus driver Glen Doerksen and nine other players.
The Broncos were en route to a playoff game Friday when a truck carrying peat moss collided with their bus. The players were between the ages of 16 and 21. Fourteen people were injured in the crash.
The coroner's office also extended "its deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those who lost their lives as well as those who were involved in the collision."
Labelle's father, Paul Labelle, told the Saskatoon Star Phoenix on Saturday that he arrived at the scene of the crash along with his wife and daughter.
Paul Labelle, an emergency room physician, told the Star Phoenix that after initially trying to assist police at the scene, he and his family continued on their trip to Nipawin, where the Broncos were scheduled to play their playoff game later Friday night.
The Labelle family told the paper that they eventually were informed that Xavier, 18, had died in the crash. Paul said Saturday that the family was "numb right now," while his wife, Tanya, told the paper that they were "devastated."
Monday's news came one day after the Humboldt community mourned the deceased during a vigil at the Broncos' home arena. Team president Kevin Garinger choked back tears as he read out the names of the 15 dead. People embraced each other, crying. Tissue boxes were passed down rows. Flowers ringed the team logo at center ice. Pictures of the dead and injured were placed in front of the audience.
Team captain Logan Schatz, forwards Jaxon Joseph, Evan Thomas, Jacob Leicht, Logan Hunter and Conner Lukan, and defensemen Stephen Wack, Adam Herold and Logan Boulet were also among the dead, according to family members and others. Assistant coach Mark Cross, radio announcer Tyler Bieber and stats keeper Brody Hinz, who was 18, were also killed.
Nick Shumlanski, an injured player who was released from the hospital, attended the vigil wearing his white, green and yellow team jersey, with a bruise under his left eye.
Coroner misidentified victim