Roughrider player involved in fatal crash on Highway 11 near Lumsden

By Liam Tremblay — 20 July 2026 — 4 min read

Fatal Collision Details

Saskatchewan Roughriders player Jayden Dalke was driving on the wrong side of Highway 11 near Lumsden, northwest of Regina, when his vehicle collided with another, resulting in the deaths of both himself and a second driver. RCMP reported that alcohol and cannabis were present in Dalke’s SUV at the time of the crash. The incident occurred on a Saturday night.

The second driver was identified as Bhishma Rajyaguru, 22, from Regina. Jayden Dalke was 30 years old and from Leduc, Alta. Authorities confirmed that there were no passengers in either vehicle involved in the collision. Autopsies and toxicology tests are being conducted as part of the ongoing investigation.

The Lumsden fire department responded to the crash around 9 p.m., finding one vehicle in the median of the divided highway and the other in a ditch. Other motorists reportedly stopped at the scene and attempted to revive one of the men involved in the accident.

Remembering Jayden Dalke

On Monday, the Roughriders held a news conference to honour Dalke. General Manager Jeremy O’Day spoke about Dalke, stating, “Jayden was a loved teammate. You never left the conversation with Jayden where you didn’t feel happy. He loved what he was doing, loved the game of football, loved his teammates.”

Dalke, a linebacker, was a sixth-round pick in the 2022 CFL draft out of the University of Alberta. Throughout his career, he appeared in 68 regular-season games. His statistics include 69 tackles, 31 special-teams tackles, three forced fumbles, an interception, and one sack.

In 2025, Dalke participated in all 18 regular-season games for Saskatchewan. He also played in the West final and contributed to the club’s 25-17 Grey Cup victory against the Montreal Alouettes.

Dalke was returning to Regina from his hometown of Leduc, Alta., after spending the team’s bye week there when the fatal motor-vehicle accident occurred on Saturday night. The Roughriders had a one-week break following their 38-7 victory over the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats on July 12.

His parents, Ryan and Shannon Dalke, were known for travelling extensively to watch him play. They were present at Commonwealth Stadium when Dalke registered his first CFL interception three days after his 27th birthday. They were also in the stands for a July 3 game in Ottawa, despite Dalke missing the trip due to a hand injury sustained in the June 13 regular-season opener against the B.C. Lions.

A Champion’s Heart

Dalke’s journey to the CFL was marked by perseverance. He played four seasons with the Edmonton Wildcats in the Prairie Football Conference before joining the University of Alberta Golden Bears. He was selected 54th overall in the sixth round of the 2022 CFL Canadian Draft.

He impressed Roughriders management by participating in the CFL Combine while recovering from a re-torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee, an injury aggravated in the 2022 playoffs. He had also undergone surgery the previous July to remove the meniscus in his right knee. Despite these physical challenges, he completed the 40-yard dash in 4.86 seconds at the Combine.

Kyle Carson, the Roughriders‘ Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel, noted Dalke’s intangibles, stating in 2023 that Dalke’s heart and toughness set him apart. Dalke became one of only six sixth-round selections for the Roughriders to see regular-season duty since 1958.

As a team captain and a member of the linebacking corps, Dalke wore No. 38. He played in three playoff contests and the 2025 Grey Cup, helping the Roughriders secure their fifth championship in franchise history, and their first since 2013, by defeating the Montreal Alouettes 25-17 in Winnipeg.

During the 2025 championship season, Dalke recorded a career-high of 13 special teams tackles. He also demonstrated his resilience during the 60th Labour Day Classic against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, where he sustained a neck and shoulder injury. After undergoing tests at the hospital, he returned to the stadium and finished the game, which the Roughriders won 34-30 at Mosaic Stadium.

Dalke received recognition for his efforts when Pro Football Focus awarded him the highest grade of 90.3 for any CFL player on special teams during Week 13 of the 2025 season. He was also chosen to lead the traditional post-game branding exercise on August 31, a task usually reserved for a key contributor. Head Coach Corey Mace commented in early September of last year, “That speaks volumes to his teammates and everyone in the building. I love Dalks.”

Source: sportsnet.ca