Humboldt families, officials extend sympathies, support after deadly Manitoba crash

Scott Thomas was driving and listening to the radio on Thursday when he heard the news of the deadly crash near Carberry, Man., that killed 15 people and left 10 people injured.

Thomas had to pull over.

"Anytime we hear the word semi involved in a mass casualty incident now, it takes our breath away," he said.

Thomas's 18-year-old son Evan was one of 16 people killed in 2018 when the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team's bus collided with a tractor trailer. 

He is devastated for the families in Dauphin, Man., who lost loved ones.

"The first thing you're going to have to accept, unfortunately, is that your life will never be the same," he said. 

"The person that you were yesterday is gone. You're going to have to find a new way to exist.… And you're going to have to put one foot forward and then the next foot forward and just keep breathing and keep going and accept the help of the people around you."

The horrific crash in Manitoba has left many grappling with the tragedy, an experience the people of Humboldt. Sask., know all too well.

Michael Behiel was a Humboldt city councillor in 2018.

Now mayor, Behiel jumped into action to see how his city could help Dauphin.

"Our fire chief was in contact with the fire chief of Dauphin to discuss triage measures, etc., to make sure that everything moving forward was being looked after properly there and handled," he said.

"The city managers have spoken to try to establish any offers of assistance and input that we can give them. And I myself have reached out to the mayor of Dauphin offering any means of support or input that we can."

The cities now have a bond of shared tragedy.

"It's not a tie that anybody ever wants to have in that shape or form," Behiel said.

"I've made it clear