Names of four cadets killed in Royal Military College incident released

The Royal Military College (RMC) of Canada has released the four names of the individuals who died in an incident involving a vehicle at the RMC campus in Kingston.

The Department of National Defence (DND) confirmed it was investigating the incident that happened on Friday, April 29. Commodore Josee Kurtz, head of the school, said the cadets died in an accident at about 2 a.m., and in a statement said a vehicle “entered the waters” at the Point Frederick peninsula, where Lake Ontario meets the St. Lawrence River. No other details were released. 

“This loss is felt across the RMC community and we extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of our fallen cadet during this difficult time,” a statement from the RMC said on Friday. 

Later that day, the RMC released the names of the four individuals in order:

• Officer Cadet Andrés Salek
• Officer Cadet Jack Hogarth
• Officer Cadet Andrei Honciu
• Officer Cadet Broden Murphy

Jack Hogarth was in military and strategic studies and hoped to be an officer in an armoured regiment. Andrei Honciu was studying business administration and planned to be a logistics officer.

Broden Murphy, also a business administration student, was working to become an aerospace environment controller. Andres Salek, a student of military and strategic studies, also wanted to be an armoured officer.

Kurtz said the families of the cadets have been informed.

“I am heartbroken that four officer cadets lost their lives far too soon at RMC Kingston this morning,” National Defence Minister Anita Anand said in a statement. “I offer my deepest condolences to their families, classmates and loved ones as they grieve such a profound loss, which is felt across our Canadian Armed Forces and country.”

An investigation into this incident by Canadian Forces National Investigation Service is ongoing. No further information about the incident will be provided until the investigation is complete.

“Today, we lost four promising young officers, who were just a few weeks away from convocation and commissioning in the Canadian Armed Forces,” Major-General Lise Bourgon added. “I offer my heartfelt condolences to their family, friends and colleagues and mourn their tragic loss.”

The RMC is comprised of about 2,300 military and civilian staff, faculty and students.

There are 280 students in the class of 2022, who have completed the academic program.

The four pillars of RMC are academics, military (leadership and ethos), physical fitness and bilingualism. And when successfully completed, graduates are given an RMC degree and receive their Canadian Armed Forces officer’s commission.

– With files from The Canadian Press