3 sisters die after being buried in canola seeds

CALGARY, Alberta — Three sisters died after being smothered by canola while playing on a truck loaded with the seed near Withrow, central Alberta, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said on Wednesday.

The RCMP were called to a family-owned farm at around 6:15 p.m. MT (0015 GMT) on Tuesday, where the three young siblings had been buried in canola seed on the truck.

Adults on scene dragged the girls out and emergency services personnel attempted to resuscitate them, police said.

"My understanding is it was the parents and neighbors that rushed out to get the girls freed up," said Ted Hickey, Director of Community and Protective services at Clearwater County, Alberta, which sent firefighters to the scene.

Two of the sisters, aged 11 and 13, were pronounced dead at the scene.

The third, also 11, was taken to hospital via air ambulance in critical condition but died early Wednesday morning, an RCMP spokeswoman said.