Probationary officers Jack Hogarth, Andrei Honciu, Broden Murphy and Andres Salek, all about to graduate, died early Friday morning when their vehicle crashed into the lake surrounding the campus in Kingston, Ont. The students had to continue on the last day of Saturday with the incident hanging over their heads, but said they tried to focus on the task at hand. “It was really, ‘keep your head down and try to do your best under the circumstances,’” said sophomore Aiden Robb-Craig after his final exam. As the RMC closed the main campus for the weekend for foreigners, students leaving final exams in an adjoining building were quiet, with some saying they would probably postpone the end-of-quarter celebrations because of what happened. Others are likely to gather for drinks to overcome the tragedy together, Rob-Craig said. “This is one of the ways in which people can overcome it. It will be a great relief from stress, as going out together is something we do. It ‘s just that we mourn together, how we get over things.” Prime Minister Justin Trinto issued a statement saying his heart was broken for the families and friends of the four who lost their lives, while RMC Governor Josee Kurtz said on Friday that the entire college community was devastated by the loss. “The director of RMC, Dr. “Harry Kowal and I extend our heartfelt condolences to their loved ones,” he told a news conference. “As parents ourselves, we can only imagine their pain and we will continue to provide them with the support they need in the difficult days and weeks to come.” On campus, two makeshift monuments have sprung up, one next to a kiosk near one of the homes and the other at the scene, RMC spokesman Jonathan Farlam said. Across Kingston Bay, community members expressed frustration with the news. “I was shocked to hear that, it was the last place that would happen,” said Ben Doherty. “It’s a tragedy, they were just ready to leave.” Hogarth was in military and strategic studies and hoped to be an officer in an armored regiment, according to the Department of Defense. Honciu was studying business administration and planned to become a logistics officer. Murphy, also a student of business administration, worked to become an aerospace controller. Salek, a student of military and strategic studies, also wanted to become an armored officer. The National Defense Agency released few details about the fatal incident, saying only that the four lost their lives when the vehicle entered Lake Ontario at Point Frederick on campus at around 2 am on Friday. The investigation is ongoing. A National Defense Ministry spokeswoman said details of any memorial service would be released at the request and at the discretion of the victims’ families. This Canadian Press report was first published on April 30, 2022.
