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Father, two daughters killed in Saskatchewan collision

Sorrento residents Doug, Alli and Cassidy Janzen were killed after a head-on collision in Rosetown, Sask. Sunday afternoon.
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Cassidy

Three Sorrento residents were killed and two more remain in hospital after a head-on collision in Rosetown, Sask. Sunday afternoon.

Doug Janzen, 47 and his daughter Alli, 19, died at the scene of the collision, while Cassidy, 13, was taken to hospital first in Rosetown and then to Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, where she died from her injuries.

The two other family members in the car remain in hospital. Patricia Janzen is in critical condition, while her 16-year-old son Cody is injured but RCMP report he is expected to make a full recovery.

RCMP say at approximately 12:20 p.m. a westbound car being driven by Doug attempted to pass a semi-truck and collided head-on with an eastbound SUV.

"There were heavy rains here Saturday and Sunday and it was raining quite hard at the time of the crash. It appears the spray off the semi was quite heavy and obscured the driver's visibility," says Sgt. Ian Skinner of the Rosemont RCMP detachment.

Skinner notes all five members of the Janzen family were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.
"There were no ejections, but damage to their vehicle was extreme."

Two occupants of the eastbound SUV, a 56-year-old man and 30-year-old man, also a father and son,  from Plato, Saskatchewan were also taken to hospital with unknown injuries. The 30-year-old is in critical condition, while the older man is expected to recover.

Alli  was attending school at Okanagan College, after graduating from Salmon Arm Secondary last year, while Cassidy attended Carlin Elementary/Middle School.

The North Okanagan-Shuswap School District #83 crisis team has been dispatched to several schools to try to help students and staff cope with the tragic accident.

Superintendent Dave Witt said the crisis team went to the schools on Monday morning and will stay as needed.

"Our hearts go out to the family and community as they deal with this tragedy and work through this difficult time," adds Witt.