At least 15 killed after lorry and van crash in Canada

At least 15 people have been killed in a horror crash involving a lorry and a van.

Images show a truck on between Highway 1 and Highway 5 on the Trans-Canada Highway near Manitoba, in Canada, near the US.

The Winnipeg Free Press reports at least three bodies can be seen covered under white sheets at the scene 2pm local time.

At least eight ambulances were seen rushing to Brandon.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed they were at the scene of a ‘very serious collision’.

They tweeted: ‘RCMP on scene of a very serious collision on #MBHwy1 at #MBHwy5. Please yield to #rcmpmb & emergency vehicles en route. Highway closures in effect – avoid the area.’

Caroline Bleackley, a truck driver, said she saw thick black smoke spewing from a vehicle in a ditch.

She said: ‘I could see there were people laying on the ground and people trying to attend to the bodies on the ground. I have seen collisions before, but not like this, not this magnitude.

‘It was a significant impact based on what I saw. There was a lot of damage. It was pretty sad to see.’

Bystanders reportedly tried to help before paramedics arrived.

STARS spokesman Blake Robert told local media: ‘STAR-7 (helicopter) has been deployed from Winnipeg and STAR-9 (helicopter) has been deployed from Regina.

‘We have also deployed additional STARS crew to the area on two fixed wing aircraft, for a total of 14 STARS critical care crew responding in addition to area EMS and other first responders.’

Health and Prairie Mountain Health: ‘Response teams are at the scene and transporting patients and emergency department, surgical and critical care teams at HSC and Brandon Regional Health Centre are prepared to support the care needs of incoming patients.’

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