The Canadian Press
Peter Rakobowchuk
MONTREAL–A bus crash in eastern Mexico that claimed the lives of 12 people, including a Canadian woman, has left families in two provinces in a state of shock.
The woman was identified by her family as Stephanie Horwood of Gatineau, Que.
Carole Pommet Reinthaler told The Canadian Press yesterday that her daughter-in-law was in Mexico with her husband and their two daughters aged nine and 11.
Those three all were injured in the crash.
Pommet Reinthaler said she was devastated when her son called to break the news of the tragedy.
“I still don’t believe she is dead,” she noted.
“It’s difficult to accept, but we have to no choice but to live with a pain like that.”
Pommet Reinthaler said her son will return to Ottawa with his two girls this evening, but Horwood’s body will be transported to her family in Newfoundland-Labrador.
“Her father wants to see his daughter for a last time,” Pommet Reinthaler said.
She said there would be two funeral ceremonies: one in Horwood’s native St. John’s, N.L. and the other in Gatineau.
Horwood would have turned 43 on Dec. 27.
“For us to have something like that happen, it’s almost incredible . . . that she died so young and in another country where she was going to have so much fun with her family,” Pommet Reinthaler said.
She added the tragedy has been very hard on her son.
Global Affairs Canada confirmed one Canadian was killed and three others were among the 20 injured in the incident.
The accident occurred when the bus carrying cruise ship passengers flipped over on a narrow highway in the state of Quintana Roo on Tuesday, Global Affairs said.
The bus was headed toward Mayan ruins when the crash occurred.
Mexican officials said eight Americans, two Swedes, and one Mexican were the others killed in the crash.
The injured bus driver was taken into custody, the state government said.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Miami-based Royal Caribbean Cruises confirmed 27 passengers from two of its cruise ships were on the bus at the time of the crash.
“Our hearts go out to all those involved in the bus accident,” company spokeswoman Cynthia Martinez said in a statement.
“We are doing all we can to care for our guests, including assisting with medical care and transportation.”
