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Teacher, students killed in crash identified

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Funeral arrangements made for five Walkerton crash victims

Funeral arrangements made for five Walkerton crash victims

Walkerton community shows support to honour crash victims

Walkerton community shows support to honour crash victims

Students and staff return to school after Walkerton tragedy

Students and staff return to school after Walkerton tragedy

Collision site may undergo safety study

Collision site may undergo safety study

Crash victims identified as Walkerton community mourns

Crash victims identified as Walkerton community mourns

'Absolutely unimaginable time’ school board says after crash

'Absolutely unimaginable time’ school board says after crash

‘Immense shock and sorrow’: Walkerton community grieves loss of five killed in crash

‘Immense shock and sorrow’: Walkerton community grieves loss of five killed in crash

Identities of students and teacher confirmed in Walkerton car crash

Identities of students and teacher confirmed in Walkerton car crash

CTV National News: Ontario town mourns tragic loss of teacher and four students

CTV National News: Ontario town mourns tragic loss of teacher and four students

Mayor says ‘entire town completely devastated’ after fatal crash in Middlesex County

Mayor says ‘entire town completely devastated’ after fatal crash in Middlesex County

4 students, staff member killed in Middlesex County crash

4 students, staff member killed in Middlesex County crash

Brockton Mayor: 'Community in shock but remain united after tragic crash'

Brockton Mayor: 'Community in shock but remain united after tragic crash'

Teacher, four high school students dead in Ontario crash

Teacher, four high school students dead in Ontario crash

On Friday afternoon, an SUV driven by a high school teacher and carrying four teenage girls, collided with a tractor trailer at the intersection of Cobble Hills Road and Thorndale Road.

All five occupants of the SUV died. They were on their way home to Walkerton from a school softball tournament in Dorchester.

OPP have not released the names of the victims, but CTV News has confirmed their names and photos through friends.

The teacher has been identified as Matt Eckert, a beloved school coach, and an assistant coach with the Owen Sound Junior B Northstars Lacrosse Club.

MATT ECKERT - CRASH - MAY 2025 Matt Eckert was a teacher at Walkerton District Community School, and assistant coach for the Owen Sound Junior B Northstars Lacrosse team. He died in a car crash north of London, along with four students on May 23, 2025. (Source: Owen Sound Junior B Northstars Lacrosse)

The four students have been identified as Olivia Rourke, Rowan McLeod, Kaydance Ford, and Danica Baker.

A candlelight vigil will be held Sunday evening at dusk at their school, Walkerton District Community School.

Walkerton residents are being asked to consider placing sneakers on their front steps this week to honour the students and teacher who were killed.

— With files from CTV News London’s Scott Miller

Olivia Rourke An undated image of Olivia Rourke. (Source: Submitted)
WALKERTON FATAL - ROWAN MCLEOD An undated image of Rowan McLeod. (Source: Submitted)
WALKERTON FATAL - KAYDANCE FORD An undated image of Kaydance Ford. (Source: Submitted)
WALKERTON FATAL - DANICA BAKER An undated image of Danica Baker. (Source: Submitted)