Summary
On May 23, 2025, a tragic crash northeast of London killed high school softball coach Matt Eckert and four teenage athletes from Walkerton District Community School after they celebrated a second-place finish in a local tournament. The collision involved their SUV and a transport truck, resulting in the deaths of three 17-year-old girls and one 16-year-old girl, with the coach later succumbing to injuries. The incident has deeply affected the community, prompting a vigil attended by over 1,000 people and an online fundraiser that raised more than $13,000 for the families.
