A Leduc, Alberta, native and team captain for the Saskatchewan Roughriders has died in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 11 near Lumsden, Saskatchewan. Jayden Dalke, 30, was killed in the head-on collision on July 18, 2026. Also killed was Bhishma Rajyaguru, 22, of Regina.
RCMP say Dalke was driving a silver SUV northbound in the southbound lanes of the divided highway, about nine kilometres southeast of Lumsden. His vehicle struck Rajyaguru’s car. Rajyaguru, an international student from Gujarat, India, was driving back to Regina from Saskatoon.
Investigators found alcohol and cannabis inside Dalke’s vehicle. About 30 minutes before the crash, the same SUV was linked to a gas-and-dash at a Lumsden gas station.
Dalke was a linebacker for the Roughriders and wore jersey number 38. He was drafted in the sixth round, 54th overall, in the 2022 CFL Draft. He played in 68 regular-season games, recording 69 tackles, 31 special-teams tackles, three forced fumbles, one interception, and one sack. He was part of the 2025 Grey Cup championship team. He leaves behind his wife and three young children.
Rajyaguru came to Canada in April 2022. He was a talented percussionist who played the octapad with the Regina Music Group. A GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $77,000 to help send his remains to his parents in India.
On July 23, 2026, the Roughriders held a pre-game memorial at Mosaic Stadium before their game against the Edmonton Elks. The team honoured both Dalke and Rajyaguru. During the first punt, the Roughriders fielded only 11 players in a symbolic tribute to Dalke, taking a time count violation.
The RCMP collision reconstruction investigation is ongoing and expected to take months.
