Cannabis, alcohol found in SUV of Saskatchewan Roughrider involved in fatal collision - Global News
Alcohol and cannabis were discovered in the SUV driven by Saskatchewan Roughriders captain Jayden Dalke, who was involved in a fatal head-on collision on Saturday night. The incident occurred on Highway 11 between Lumsden and Regina, claiming the lives of both Dalke and the other driver, Bhishma Rajyaguru, a 22-year-old from Regina.
RCMP spokesperson Mandy Maier confirmed that Dalke’s silver SUV was travelling northbound in the southbound lane when the collision took place. The exact duration of the vehicle travelling in the wrong direction is not clear, and authorities did not receive any prior reports of an erratic or wrong-way driver in the area.
Details of the Incident
The collision happened around 9 p.m. on Saturday. Officers found alcohol and cannabis in Dalke’s vehicle, though the quantities or whether containers were open were not specified. Autopsies and toxicology reports have been ordered as part of the ongoing investigation, but the timeline for these results or their public release remains uncertain, according to Maier.
Approximately 30 minutes before the crash, at 8:27 p.m., RCMP received a report that Dalke’s silver SUV had left a business in Lumsden without paying for fuel. The investigation later confirmed this was the same vehicle involved in the fatal collision.
Rajyaguru, the other driver, was an international student from the Indian state of Gujarat who arrived in Canada in 2022. Friends described him as a talented musician and a supportive individual. Efforts are underway by friends in Regina to raise funds to repatriate his body to India. Rajyaguru’s death occurred on his father’s birthday, adding to the tragedy for his family.
Team’s Reaction and Tribute Plans
Jeremy O’Day, the Roughriders’ general manager, spoke about Dalke, remembering him as a positive influence on the team. O’Day stated that Dalke was someone who was always smiling and loved football and his teammates. The news of Dalke’s passing was shared with his teammates by head coach Corey Mace.
Despite the tragedy, the Roughriders’ scheduled games will proceed. O’Day mentioned that being together and celebrating Dalke’s life is considered part of the grieving process for the players. The team is planning a tribute before their next game, which includes players wearing Dalke’s initials on their helmets. The team is set to host the Edmonton Elks for their next home game.
Dalke, originally from Leduc, Alberta, played for the Edmonton Huskies and the University of Alberta Golden Bears before being drafted into the CFL. He was a sixth-round pick in the 2022 CFL Draft. He appeared in 68 career regular-season games, including all 18 regular-season games for Saskatchewan in 2025. Dalke was part of the team that won the 2025 Grey Cup, defeating the Montreal Alouettes 25-17 in Winnipeg.
Craig Reynolds, the Roughriders CEO, indicated that he became aware of the details surrounding the crash, including the presence of alcohol and cannabis and Dalke driving on the wrong side of the highway, when the RCMP released the information publicly. He expressed sorrow for both victims, acknowledging the unfortunate nature of the tragedy.
Source: globalnews.ca
