What started as an ordinary road trip to a weekend hockey tournament quickly turned into a scary situation for the U-17 AAA Southwest Cougars, who found themselves stuck on the highway for hours due to a multi-vehicle crash near Oakville.
Shianne Mc Kay, a mom traveling with the team to Winnipeg, shared that they were trapped behind the accident and couldn’t move as conditions worsened.
“We’re in Oakville because we are on our way to a hockey tournament this weekend in Winnipeg,” Mc Kay said. “We got caught behind the accident that happened with the multiple vehicle collision, and we’re just happy that Oakville opened up their doors and their community hall.”
As per Mc Kay’s account, some members of the team were stuck on the highway for about two and a half hours, including her and her son. The visibility was very poor, adding to their anxiety during the ordeal.
“I was driving very, very slow prior to the accident,” she said. “You could not see anything in front of you. It’s like everything just disappeared.”
Travellers stranded for the night at the Oakville Community Centre. Portage Online/Brittany Boschman
Mc Kay mentioned she managed to stay in touch with a teammate who was driving behind her while another teammate was closer to where the crash occurred.
“Another mom, Nikki, was right behind me, so we got to keep each other company,” she said. “Our other teammate was a little bit further ahead and she was kind of involved a little bit in the accident. She got nicked.”
That mom wasn’t seriously hurt and is expected to be fine, Mc Kay confirmed.
For Mc Kay, one of the toughest parts of this experience was feeling scared and unsure being so far from home with limited information.
“It was a very scary feeling,” she said. “There was high anxiety at times… You just had to go on blind faith.”
The situation improved when members of the Oakville community stepped up by opening their local community center to offer food, shelter, and a safe space for those affected.
“We’re well entertained, well fed, and we’re going to be okay,” Mc Kay said gratefully about all the support they received.
Mc Kay noted that this experience served as a reminder to take things slowly and focus on safety.
“There’s nothing in this world that’s that important for your life,” she said.
As cleanup efforts continue, the Cougars are looking forward to getting back on track once conditions improve so they can head home to Souris while carrying along an uplifting example of community spirit during tough times.
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