The Thompson Rivers University volleyball player who was killed in Wednesday’s multi-vehicle crash in Sahali has been identified by his family as Owyn McInnis, a fourth-year outside hitter from Guelph, Ontario.

In a post on Instagram, Erin Walter said her worst nightmare came true when she was told that her son was killed in the crash that critically injured two other TRU student-athletes.

“Our son had no chance to survive,” Walter said. “Medical professionals worked so hard to save Owyn [but] you can’t unring those words from the coach and ER doctor. I can only imagine the difficulty they had in making the call.”

“Our family and myself are in Kamloops, putting the pieces together and since there is a criminal investigation ongoing we will know more in the days to come.”

Kamloops RCMP say a Dodge Ram pickup collided with several small trees in the area of McGill Road and University Drive around 3 p.m. Wednesday before it hit a Volkswagen that was stopped at a red light.

All three WolfPack athletes were in the Volkswagen.

“As we navigate these unbearable waters, please send love and energy to the two other boys. We don’t want another set of parents to experience what we are right now,” Walter said.

“In the days to come we will provide information on his funeral in Guelph and how we will keep his legacy alive.”

TRU WolfPack Athletic Director Curtis Atkinson says its been a difficult few days for the university community.

“When we look at the WolfPack community and the campus community, there are a lot of emotions and a period of mourning that’s probably going to carry on for quite some time,” Atkinson told Radio NL.

“There’s been an incredible outpouring of support, which has meant a lot to us as well. We’ve heard it and are very appreciative of it.”

Atkinson says TRU university staff have met with all of its sports teams to outline what supports are available to them. He says with exams approaching, academic accommodations may be made for anyone who needs it.

“The priority was meeting with the men’s volleyball team and the women’s volleyball team where there’s a lot of obviously deep connections and personal relationships and making sure those meetings counselling support through the University [was made] available at them,” Atkinson added.

There is a growing memorial in the McGill Road area with flowers, WolfPack gear, and tributes to honour the victims of the crash.

“It is hard to find words that express how we feel in these moments, in the face of such inexplicable tragedy,” TRU President Brett Fairbairn said, in a statement. “Our most sincere thoughts are with their families and loved ones, and on behalf of TRU, I offer our deepest condolences.”

“We grieve with them, along with others, including their teammates, friends, classmates, and professors. This is a loss for the TRU community that will be felt for a long time.”

All WolfPack games have been postponed until further notice.

“I’m numb, that Sunday was the last day I’ll ever see my son again,” Walter said. “Child loss is heartbreaking.”

@Kamscan #Kamloops
A memorial has appeared in the area where the terrible accident occurred yesterday. A deadly accident happened yesterday, in an area where kids, elderly folks, cyclists, and pedestrians transit regularly. @cityofkamloops @CastanetKam pic.twitter.com/pB7xKOO4MW

— Paolo Bigit Hurtado 🇺🇦 (@bigitpaolo) December 1, 2023