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Football player, P.A. woman die in Highway 11 head-on

Published on September 14th, 2009
Published on November 3rd, 2009
Tim Switzer

An 18-year-old University of Regina Rams football player and a 25-year-old Prince Albert woman were killed Friday night in a head-on collision on Highway 11 near MacDowall.

Football jerseys adorned a memorial outside Michael A. Riffel High School on Sunday in tribute to Spenser Borlase, a rookie defensive lineman.

Topics :
Saskatchewan News Network , University of Regina Rams , Prince Albert , MacDowall , Ravine Provincial Park , Saskatoon

Saskatchewan News Network -

An 18-year-old University of Regina Rams football player and a 25-year-old Prince Albert woman were killed Friday night in a head-on collision on Highway 11 near MacDowall.

Football jerseys adorned a memorial outside Michael A. Riffel High School on Sunday in tribute to Spenser Borlase, a rookie defensive lineman.

Students from the school hung a blue tarp from a fence around noon on Sunday to remember Borlase, as well as fellow Riffel student Taylor Smerchynski, an 18-year-old who drowned while swimming near Rowan's Ravine Provincial Park in July.

As family and friends visited the site, it was soon filled with messages and photos, a Royals football practice jersey and a jersey from the Football Saskatchewan Senior Bowl, in which Borlase was a participant in May. Many of the messages to Borlase noted the six-foot-two, 290-pounder's bear hugs and his bright smile while one, from former Royals and current Rams teammate Catlyn Todorovich, came with a promise to win a Vanier Cup for Borlase.

"We were always proud of him, but didn't know how much of an impact he had on other people," Borlase's father, Peter, said after visiting the memorial.

Borlase is survived by his father, mother Heather and brothers Fraser and Hunter.

Borlase had been in Saskatoon to take in the Rams' game against the Saskatchewan Huskies on Friday and was on his way to P.A. to visit his girlfriend when at about 11 p.m., his vehicle suddenly veered into the southbound lane resulting in the head-on crash.

Four passengers in the southbound van - a 48-year-old woman and 13-, two- and one-year-old girls - were taken to Victoria Hospital. One was subsequently transferred to Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon with serious injuries. Injuries to the other three were believed to be non-life threatening.

The RCMP, which continues to investigate, has not released the names of the others involved.

Comments

  • Username
    really now
    - November 20th, 2009 at 06:51:46

    PO'd in P.A. from Prince Albert, SK i totally agree with u on this one... i was just telling my bf that they have this big article on the guy but only a couple sentences for the others.. i find it rude because he was a lone rider.. but yet OUR friend and her family get one paragraph.. i worked with the driver and she was an excellent person and friend.. my prayers go out to her family ...

    common people say on the topic.. every article i read its always the laws fault or you try solving things on your own .. with silly conculusions get real

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  • Username
    hmmmm
    - November 20th, 2009 at 06:48:08

    So very sad for the families and my condolences go out to them at their time of grief. However Gord how would you know that people are driving between 120 km/h to 140 km/h? Unless of course you are travelling that speed yourself. I have seen the police on this highway and as per Former PA states, you cannot blame law enforcement for accidents, hence the term accident.

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  • Username
    PO'd
    - November 20th, 2009 at 05:35:23

    In this story there is are a total of 9 paragraphs. 7 of these mention the lone occupant, an 18 year old who caused the collision and 1 paragraph is given to the 4 others in the vehicle which was in its own lane faultless. This young lady who was killed was a mother, daughter, grand-daughter, cousin, niece and a friend to many. She too was a student who leaves 2 little angels to grow up without their mother. Even the other gentleman's family members are mentioned by name! Our deceased meant alot to us to too and deserved a lot more recognition than this article has given her.

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  • Username
    Shirley
    - November 20th, 2009 at 02:38:43

    Ofcourse everybody feels for all families involved but there has been some very hurtful comments. Spenser's grandparents were with us on vacation in Scotland when they received the devastating news. Think how they felt not being near their family to comfort them. Also I assure everybody they were as concerned for the other family involved as they were for their own
    having said so to us several times. They are now on a long lonesome flight back to Regina with broken hearts and still thinking of ALL families involved in this tragedy.

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  • Username
    hjh
    - November 20th, 2009 at 02:07:18

    My condolences to the families of the people invloved in this horrific accident ...God bless slg for stopping I know a couple people that were helping at the scene and whos lives will never be the same after seeing what occured...We may never know what caused the accident whether it was ...tiredness, texting, alcohol, speed, or even just changing a cd all we do know is that two lives have been lost and their families lives changed forever

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  • Username
    slg
    - November 20th, 2009 at 01:15:27

    My heart goes out to BOTH families who i have never met in my life but pray for every night. Two innocent lives were taken friday night at 11. This i know because i was ONE of VERY few people who helped try and save the lives of the people in the accident. I was about the second person to drive up to the tradgedy and was forced out of my car because of anger from people having the audacity to DRIVE THROUGH the ditch and around the tragic accident!! You know who you are and now that you know that two innocent lives were taken i hope you feel horrible! I am 19 years old and i had more heart and sympathy for the people involved in the accident than people my parents age. I didnt drive around, i was One of few that got out and helped with what ever i could do to help. I Thank everyone with all my heart that helped out that night, that seen the condition that family, two kids, and a teenager were in and had the heart to NOT drive around the accident. Again my prayers are with both families.

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  • Username
    concerned
    - November 19th, 2009 at 09:46:31

    Who knows, maybe someone fell asleep. I suppose there is the possibility of a deer running up on the highway, but even they sleep at night. I too drive that highway often and believe me, many people speed. They also pass on solid lines and when it is not safe.

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  • Username
    gord
    - November 19th, 2009 at 08:34:18

    In the many articles I have read or the coverage that has been seen on the local news - it all states the same: The identity of the other party is unknown at this time .

    In all the presumptions that have been made, can one assume that perhaps the family of the second vehicle has requested not to release the name of the occupants that are deceased and those that survived as they are dealing with their own grief over the loss of a loved one and are dealing with the healing and recovered of those that survived their injuries ?

    The young man's identity has been made known perhaps because of his role in his community and due to that reasoning alone, there has been more written about him.

    Two lives lost - it's very tragic and heartbreaking to all that know of these individuals. They were both loved and were members of a loved community; however if one is patient in the days ahead we will learn more about the others that were involved in this tragic unforunate accident.

    Our hearts and prayers go out to both families in their grief.

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  • Username
    J.C.
    - November 19th, 2009 at 03:36:19

    My condolences to everyone involved. Stella is very upset and maybe this is a bad time to bring up the cause of the accident. However, everyone is wondering what happened. As parents, we try to teach our kids that one mistake behind the wheel can be fatal. We need to make our kids responsible and they need to understand that when they are behind the wheel, their life and the life of others is their responsibility.

    Many kids and adults are texting and I can't wait for that to be against the law!! I watched a W-5 presentation which stated that texting is worse than drinking and driving. There is also the issue of speeding. The laws need to get tougher on kids speeding. Also, kids need to understand the seriousness of falling asleep behind the wheel which I know has happened to many kids and they were lucky to walk away.

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  • Username
    crystal
    - November 19th, 2009 at 01:02:07

    I drive that highway every weekend and even more than that - rarely do I see any patorl on that highway unless they are called out to something. I fear every friday when I have to venture on that route and wish I would make the trip a different day. with all the construction happening and no enforcement on the speed vehicles are to travel people tend to take advantage and get absolutely stupid, the twinning of the highway may help but patrolling would deffinately reduce the incidences that occur as people will be more aware of what they are doing and the consequences of doing so.

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  • Username
    mona
    - November 19th, 2009 at 00:48:39

    There are no such thing as accidents. Someone or something was doing something wrong. My condolences for all the families involved.

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  • Username
    L
    - November 18th, 2009 at 22:53:36

    In response to PO'd in PA:
    I understand your frustration regarding the information that has been written so far about the accident. No names have been officially released by the RCMP. For some reason the media has been able to gather more information regarding the young man. Please rest assured that we are thinking and praying for the family of the young lady, as well as the people still in hospital. Any accident results in many questions....in this case we may truly never find out what actually happened.

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  • Username
    cm
    - November 18th, 2009 at 22:34:36

    I was one of the first vehicles on the scene of the crash. Had a semi coming from the other direction not flashed his lights at me I might have plowed in to the wreckage, it was that dark. I too couldn't believe it when some vehicles drove through and around the wreckage and left. I couldn't help but think maybe one of them had the flashlight or fire extinguisher we were looking for. But I will say most people stopped and we tried our best until help arrived. I admit I never felt so helpless in my life because I didn't know what to do. Thank God one of the first people there was an off duty paramedic who took charge at the scene. I was so impressed with this young paramedic. I also think I know who Sig was as a young lady arrived at the scene early and was down in the ditch helping and attending to the young infants freed from the van. What I saw that night still bothers me but I take heart knowing there are people like Sig out there.

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  • Username
    wl
    - November 18th, 2009 at 22:07:47

    to slg i know the teenager very well...God bless you for stopping..seeing an accident not knowing the condidtion of the people involved i am sure his parents will be comforted by the fact you stopped as he was away from home, and the care you took. don't be to hard on thoses that drove by, special people stop, most don't.
    i am comforted knowing someone cared to stop. Please know he did not do this on purpose..he also will be much missed and is much loved...as this wonderful mother, daughter, her name will never be forgotton by those who love her also. its truly a tragedy..for all. No one intends to die this way when so much hope, life, and dreams that are still such a part of life. Its truly heart wrenching for all...

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  • Username
    Former PA Resident
    - November 18th, 2009 at 20:56:49

    You cannot blame law enforcement for morons driving 140km +. I agree that people drive way to fast on that highway but law enforcement is not pushing on the driver's foot making them go that fast. People need to take responsibility for their own actions.

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  • Username
    marie
    - November 18th, 2009 at 20:18:22

    In responce to Sig from p.a.'s entry.

    After reading so many entries, it was heartwarming to know that those precious lives weren't alone and that you were there to give aid in any way you could. It must have been overwhelming for you at your age to witness such a tragic scene where young lives were involved.

    You were an angel that night, God bless you for being there in their time of need.

    Submit a Comment

  • Username
    jennifer
    - November 18th, 2009 at 19:15:25

    I wonder if texting was a factor.

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  • Username
    Stella
    - November 18th, 2009 at 18:01:56

    Just a word to Jennifer ,,,do you not have any feelings ,,,what a think to say
    There are ppl suffering today and you come up with something as stupid as wonder if texting was involved
    Hope you never go thru something like this in ur family

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  • Username
    Bull
    - November 18th, 2009 at 16:41:37

    we were there, and saw everything unfold we called 911 i would like to thank the person who gave me the water to put the fire out and the people that helped out in anyway they could i would also like to send a thank you to my driving partner that night who was the paramedic the things that happened that night will never be forgotten and my deepest regrets go out to the family and friends of both vehicles. i hang my head in shame at those of you who just drove by and gawked before help arrived (absolutely heartless)

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  • Username
    Gord
    - November 18th, 2009 at 16:10:10

    My condolances to the families, I hope speed was not a factor but it often is in accidents like this and especially on Raceway 11. Its too bad this stretch of highway is just simply not monitored by police. Shocking as it may sound Hwy 11 is just a lawless unpatrolled death trap, I travel this raceway often and honestly I cannot remember the last time I saw the RCMP on it. The reality is there should be one officer every 30 miles 24-7-365 enforcing the law. 140 + klm per hour is not uncommon on this Hwy with many travelling much faster than that, If you are doing anything under 120 you will get run over by most including those towing boats and trailers. Accidents involving speed on this raceway clearly is the fault of law enforcement or lack there of.

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  • Username
    Sam
    - November 18th, 2009 at 15:00:00

    My hope and prayer is that when that highway is finally twinned, it doesn't turn into a autobahn. Blacktop means more speed and more of being in a rush..

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