The year that has passed since a bus crash killed 17 seniors headed to a Manitoba casino on a bright late-spring day has been one of grief, community support, a slow return to normal and, for some, a long road to recovery.

It has also left unanswered questions about the genesis of the horrific crash that left the bus in flames, debris strewn in all directions and first responders dealing with a chaotic scene of death of injury.

Dauphin, a city of 8,000 residents in western Manitoba, is a place where almost everyone knows everyone. Most know someone who was killed or injured in the crash or someone related to a victim.

On Saturday, the anniversary of the crash, residents are to unveil a monument to the lives lost.

害羞草研究所淛une 15 will be forever embedded in the minds of most of our community,害羞草研究所� Dauphin Mayor David Bosiak said in an interview.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 like Sept. 11. People remember what they were doing that day.害羞草研究所�

Don Stokotelny is among those connected to the tragedy.

His mother, Josephine Stokotelny, 86, was severely injured in the crash and has spent the last year recovering. She suffered brain damage, uses a walker to get around and is in assisted living.

He also knows the bus driver. He had hired the driver on previous occasions for small group outings and considers the man a caring person.

Stokotelny said he has chosen forgiveness over anger.

害羞草研究所淲e used his services to cart Mom around and some of her friends to other events, so he took care of these people like they were his own,害羞草研究所� Stokotelny said.

害羞草研究所淚f he害羞草研究所檚 at fault, then he just made a mistake. And we accept that and we have no interest in looking at that any further.害羞草研究所�

The bus, with 25 people on board, left Dauphin and was headed to a casino near Carberry, a two-hour drive south. It was on Highway 5 and nearing its destination when it came to a busy stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway.

The bus first came across a stop sign, then a yield sign in the median, before it started to cross the eastbound lanes of the highway and was hit by a semi-trailer.

RCMP said dashcam video show the truck had the right of way. The crash caused the bus to burst into flames and end up in a ditch.

Josephine Stokotelny was thrown clear of the bus and taken to hospital in critical condition. Her son recalled seeing her severely injured, unable to breathe on her own.

害羞草研究所淪he was literally broken from head to toe,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淪he had 17 different devices hooked up to her 害羞草研究所� tubes, breathing devices, etc. There was a long time there where we weren害羞草研究所檛 sure if she was at all going to pull through.害羞草研究所�

Emergency crews rushed to the scene 害羞草研究所� ground ambulances and police, then a STARS helicopter. Survivors were taken to hospital in Brandon, and many were airlifted to the province害羞草研究所檚 major trauma centre in Winnipeg. STARS brought in reinforcements from Saskatchewan.

害羞草研究所淚t was a devastating scene, according to our crew. Everywhere they looked, there was trauma,害羞草研究所� said Grant Therrien with STARS, who was part of the team treating and transferring patients from Brandon.

There were funerals in the days that followed. Some who initially survived were taken to hospital but later died. The 17th fatality was 79-year-old Catherine Day, who died a month after the crash.

The driver of the bus was severely injured. RCMP said they have been unable to talk to him, and health officials have not released details of his condition due to provincial privacy laws.

Mounties submitted a report on the crash to Manitoba害羞草研究所檚 Crown attorney office, which has yet to decide whether to lay charges.

In Dauphin, the tragedy continues to be felt. For some, family get-togethers and holiday gatherings are a reminder that a loved one can害羞草研究所檛 be there.

害羞草研究所淎s time went on, the community got back to 害羞草研究所榥ormal.害羞草研究所� However, for the 16 or 17 families that were impacted directly 害羞草研究所� there was a tremendous amount of change for them,害羞草研究所� Bosiak said.

The ceremony on the anniversary would be a chance for families to again support each other and 害羞草研究所渟ee how everybody害羞草研究所檚 doing,害羞草研究所� Stokotelny said.

害羞草研究所淭he City of Dauphin and all the people around (have been) offering their best wishes and condolences 害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 been incredible for sure.害羞草研究所�

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Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press