What started as a typical road trip to a hockey tournament turned into a scary situation for the U-17 AAA Southwest Cougars, who ended up stranded on the highway for hours after a multi-vehicle crash near Oakville.
Shianne Mc Kay, a mom traveling with the team to Winnipeg, shared that they were stuck 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 Mc Kay explained, some team members were stuck on the highway for about two and a half hours, including her and her son. Visibility was really bad, adding to their anxiety.
“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 was able to keep in touch with a teammate who was driving behind her, while another teammate was closer to where the crash happened.
“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 okay, Mc Kay confirmed.
For Mc Kay, the toughest part of this experience was feeling scared and unsure while being far from home with little information available.
“It was a very scary feeling,” she said. “There was high anxiety at times… You just had to go on blind faith.”
Help arrived when people from Oakville stepped up by opening their local community center to offer food, shelter, and a safe place for those affected.
“We’re well entertained, well fed, and we’re going to be okay,” Mc Kay said gratefully about their support.
Mc Kay reflected on how this experience reminded her to take it easy 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 hope they can resume their journey back home to Souris once conditions improve while carrying with them an uplifting story of community support during tough times.
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