A beloved teacher and four teenage students from Walkerton District Community School in Ontario were killed on May 23, 2025, when their SUV collided with a transport truck while returning from a softball tournament near London, Ontario. The crash occurred around 4:30 p.m. at the intersection of Thorndale Road and Cobble Hills Road in Middlesex County.
Matt Eckert, 33, a teacher and coach at the school, was driving the vehicle when it struck the transport truck and was then hit by a second SUV, according to Ontario Provincial Police. The four students killed were identified as Olivia Rourke, 17, Rowan McLeod, 17, Kaydance Ford, 16, and Danica Baker, 16.
Three of the girls were pronounced dead at the scene, while Eckert and the fourth student were transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries and later died. The occupants of the second SUV and the transport truck driver suffered minor injuries. Police continue to investigate the cause of the collision.
The group had been participating in the 27th annual Girls’ High School Invitational Slo-Pitch Tournament in Dorchester before the fatal journey home to Walkerton, a Bruce County community of approximately 5,000 residents. Two of the victims, McLeod and Ford, were members of the Tara Twins U18 girls softball team, coached by McLeod’s father Mike McLeod.
Eckert served as both a mathematics teacher at Walkerton District Community School and an assistant coach with the Owen Sound Junior B Northstars Lacrosse Club. He had worked in the Bluewater District School Board system, where colleagues remembered him for his dedication to students and his positive presence in the staff room.
The tragedy sent shockwaves through the small community, prompting an immediate outpouring of grief and support. Residents began placing running shoes on their front porches and leaving lights on in honor of the victims and their families. Flowers accumulated outside the school, and municipal flags were lowered to half-mast.
A community vigil was held on May 25, 2025, outside Walkerton District Community School, where hundreds of people gathered to light candles and observe a moment of silence. The Bluewater District School Board deployed mental health staff and tragedy response teams to support students and staff returning to school.
Jamie Pettit, a spokesperson for the school board, described the situation as a time of unimaginable grief for the community. Board officials noted that the impact extended far beyond the immediate school environment, affecting the broader regional community.
Funeral services were scheduled for the weekend of May 31, 2025, across several midwestern Ontario communities. A joint service for Rourke and Baker was held at the Walkerton Community Centre on May 31, with hundreds attending in person and nearly 1,000 participating via livestream. Memorial services for McLeod and Ford were arranged at the Chesley arena, with attendees asked to wear pink in honor of McLeod’s favorite color.
During the joint funeral service, family members and friends shared memories of Rourke and Baker, describing them as joyful teammates with contagious smiles. Rourke was remembered as “the spunkiest, sassiest and coolest little girl” by her cousin, while Baker was praised for her infectious smile and positive presence.
Prime Minister Mark Carney acknowledged the tragedy on social media, describing it as an unimaginable loss and expressing that Canadians were holding the Walkerton community in their hearts. Chris Peabody, mayor of Brockton municipality which encompasses Walkerton, characterized the incident as an incomprehensible tragedy that left the town devastated.
The families requested donations to various local sports teams, including aerial gymnastics, broomball, minor hockey and baseball programs, reflecting the victims’ involvement in athletics. The Baker family established a bursary at Walkerton District Community School in Danica’s name to honor her memory.
School board director Lori Wilder noted that the four students were known for being helpful, kind and caring individuals who made significant impacts on their fellow students. A memorial table was established inside the school for all five victims as the community continued to process the profound loss.