Boy Scout, Scout Leader Killed On MN Camping Trip From North Texas
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ELY, Minn (CBSDFW.COM/AP) - A teenage boy and a woman from North Texas camping with a Boy Scouts adventure program were killed and two other campers were injured when severe storms swept through a remote area along the U.S.-Canada border, the leader of the program said Thursday.
The boy and the female volunteer with the Northern Tier High Adventure Base Program died while camping, according to general manager John Van Dreese.
Authorities said the group was camping on Basswood Lake in Quetico Provincial Park in Canada when strong winds blew through early Thursday.
The Boy Scouts previously had said the campers were on the U.S. side of the forest in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, but the Scouts later confirmed that the campers were in Canada. Quetico Provincial Park is adjacent to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.
Storms that moved through parts of Minnesota in the U.S. and Manitoba in Canada early Thursday knocked down trees and power lines.
Strong winds knocked down trees that killed the two campers and injured the two others, the Boys Scouts of America said. The two young campers who were injured were taken to a hospital but their injuries are not considered life-threatening, the Boy Scouts said.
Ontario Provincial Police on Thursday identified the two who died as 13-year-old Christian James Sanchez of Lewisville, Texas and 39-year-old Rorth Lac of Carrollton, Texas. A post-mortem examination is scheduled Friday. Canadian authorities are investigating but say the incident is not suspicious.
Nine people, including three adults and six boys, were part of the program and were camping near Basswood Lake near the Canadian border when the storms hit. Sheriff's officials and other emergency responders were working on evacuating the rest of the group from the wilderness area, Van Dreese said.
The Boy Scouts, based in Irving, released a statement saying:
"Our focus is providing support to our Scouting family in any way that we can. We are mindful of the Scouts present on the outing and the impact the incident had on them, and will be offering grief counseling to our members and volunteers. Please join us in keeping these families in your thoughts."
Saint Andrews Methodist Church in Plano will hold a prayer vigil at 7:00 p.m. Thursday.
The severe weather early Thursday knocked out power for tens of thousands of people in Minnesota on a day that was expected to be the hottest of the season. Trees, branches and debris blocked roads in northeastern Minnesota and elsewhere. Authorities in Duluth urged people to stay off the streets until they were cleared of power lines.
In Canada, a tornado touched down on the Long Plain First Nation, near Portage la Prairie, according to Environment Canada. About 18 families were being put up at an emergency center because of damage to their homes.
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