REGINA — Details are starting to emerge about a tragic vehicle collision that took the lives of Saskatchewan Roughriders captain Jayden Dalke and Bhishma Rajyaguru.
At a media briefing on Monday, the RCMP confirmed that a silver SUV driven by Dalke collided head-on with a black SUV operated by Rajyaguru.
“The silver SUV was travelling northbound in the southbound lane when the collision occurred,” said Saskatchewan RCMP spokesperson Mandy Maier.
The collision occurred Saturday night east of Lumsden along Highway 11 near the A and B exits.
The RCMP was notified of the crash at 9 p.m. Upon arriving on scene, both drivers were reported deceased.
It’s not clear how long the 30-year-old had been driving the wrong way before the collision occurred, but an eyewitness report indicated Dalke left a gas station roughly 30 minutes prior to the dispatch.
“We received a report around 8:27 p.m. from a business in Lumsden of a silver SUV leaving without paying for fuel that same day, about 30 minutes prior. Investigation has determined that this was the same silver SUV that was involved in the collision,” said Maier.
Upon early examinations, officers located alcohol and cannabis in the silver SUV.
The RCMP cannot say if impaired driving played a factor in the crash as they work with local labs to determine that.
A reeling community
At a media conference on Monday, Saskatchewan Roughriders Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Jeremy O’Day said Dalke was loved by everyone.
“He never left a conversation with Jayden where he didn't feel happy, positive, someone that was always smiling, never had a bad day, always just a pleasure to be around.”
As a player, O’Day said Dalke always did his best for his fellow teammates.
“He was someone that always wanted to do good for his teammates, and you could see when things didn't go his way, how much he wore it on his sleeve, and how much it meant for him to do a good job for himself, his teammates more importantly, and the coaching staff.”
As the Roughriders continued practice on Monday, O’Day said everyone was feeling emotional.
“Everyone's going through it, and we're trying to figure out what's going to be best for the team the way we should and do it the right way and consider everyone's feelings and how they're grieving.”
GoFundMe for lost friend
Local friends of Bhishma Rajyaguru, the other victim of the crash, have started a GoFundMe for the 22-year-old, urging help to bring him back home to India.
"We, his friends here in Canada, are coming together to ensure that Bhishma is transported back home so his family can hold him one last time and lay him to rest,” stated the GoFundMe.
Rajyaguru moved to Canada in 2022, with people describing him as kind, loyal, and having an infectious love for life.
“His future was incredibly bright, and his absence leaves a void that words simply cannot describe,” reads the GoFundMe.
Maier noted there are a lot of people hurting now from this tragedy.
“There are two people who are deceased. This is extremely tragic.”
What happens next
The RCMP collision reconstructionist and labs will determine the events leading up to the incident and factors behind the crash.
Exact results from the investigation will take months, and it’s unlikely they’ll be publicly released when done.
“If there's no formal public court process, there's no authority for the RCMP to release those specific details.”
However, the RCMP said family members and the media could publicly release information if granted.
