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UPDATED: Multi vehicle collision south of Lethbridge sends 6 to hospital

Oct 11, 2018 | 11:43 PM

LETHBRIDGE –– Five members of the Raymond High School football team, along with two others, were injured, after a serious accident Thursday evening near Magrath. 

Lethbridge News NOW received a call about backed-up traffic on Highway-5 near the Highway-52 intersection around 5:45-pm. Witnesses reported at least three vehicles were involved with victims possibly trapped in the wreckage.

Details from Global TV Thursday evening indicate RCMP believe a truck collided with a second truck that was towing a trailer, causing it to unhitch. The trailer then struck a car.

In a news release Friday morning, Raymond RCMP say according to a preliminary investigation, a northbound white truck hauling a trailer on Highway 5 collided with a westbound truck on Highway 52. The collision also involved a southbound car with a female driver. 

The lone male of the white northbound truck was treated for minor injuries on scene and released, while the woman was taken to Lethbridge hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Three of the five male youth occupants of the westbound truck were taken to hospital in Calgary; one by EMS and the other two by STARS Air Ambulance. One of the youths suffered serious, life-threatening injuries. Two other youths were taken to Chinook Regional Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Westwind School Division posted the following notice on their website late Thursday night:

 “We can confirm that a group of Westwind School Division students were involved in a serious car collision near Raymond this evening. In these moments of uncertainty, our sole focus remains with supporting those injured and their families. This is a heartbreaking and tragic accident, and we recognize that students and families from several of our schools and communities will be impacted by it. Counselling and support will be available for students at Magrath High School, Stirling School and Raymond High School tomorrow. We will provide more details as they become available.”

The Southern Alberta Minor Football Association also tweeted: 

“Our football family is hurting tonight, 5 Raymond high football players from Magrath were in a car accident today, at least 3 players are in hospital in Calgary. Please say some prayers for these young men!”

The investigation remains under investigation.