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RCMP said “extremely icy road conditions” are believed to have caused the rollover crash, which sent 52 people to four area hospitals on Christmas Eve.
Author of the article:
The Canadian press
Ashley Joannou
Posted on December 25, 2022 • Last updated 28 minutes ago • Read for 3 minutes
22 Comments The bus involved in Friday’s crash on Highway 97C belonged to Alberta-based Ebus. The vehicle was traveling from Kelowna to Vancouver at the time of the accident. Here, an Ebus is parked at the Vancouver terminal on Christmas Day. Photo: Nick Procaylo, Postmedia Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /00099170A
Content of the article
Four people were killed and dozens injured when the bus they were traveling in overturned on an icy road in British Columbia’s interior on Christmas Eve, provincial RCMP said Sunday.
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The Mounties said they received several calls Saturday shortly after 6 p.m. about the crash on Highway 97C Okanagan Connector east of Merritt near the Loon Lake exit.
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Content of the article
The force confirmed the multiple fatalities on Sunday afternoon, but did not provide details on the ages or identities of the victims.
Interior Health, the regional health authority, said 52 patients were taken to four hospitals where 36 were treated for injuries that ranged from serious to minor.
He said eight people were still in hospitals in Penticton, Kelowna and Kamloops early Sunday morning, including two in serious condition and two with non-life-threatening injuries.
“Although the number of patients remaining in hospital is low, this is a life-altering incident for everyone involved, from the initial physical injuries to the emotional and spiritual impacts of an incident like this.” Interior Health said in a statement.
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Shocked and saddened by the news of a serious bus accident between Merritt and Kelowna on the Okanagan Connector. Our thoughts are with those affected, their loved ones and the first responders and healthcare workers who are giving their all to treat people and keep them safe.
— David Eby (@Dave_Eby) December 25, 2022
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In a statement later Sunday, police said the exact number of passengers had not yet been confirmed and that officers were in the process of locating and speaking to those on the bus, including the driver.
“Due to the exigent circumstances and injuries, many were transported to local hospitals before police had a chance to identify them at the scene,” the statement said.
Police said road conditions were described as “very poor with ice and snow on the road surface along with rain and hail.”
Road conditions at the time of the crash were “very poor with ice and snow on the road surface along with rain and hail,” said Const. James Ward in an update Sunday afternoon.
Ward said a hotline, 250-545-2211, has been set up for friends and family seeking information on the passengers’ whereabouts. Investigators are also asking witnesses or anyone with dash cam footage of the bus prior to the crash to call their local RCMP detachment.
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The bus belonged to the Alberta-based company Ebus. Director John Stepovy said the vehicle was traveling from Kelowna to Vancouver at the time of the crash.
“First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who was on board, the coach and his family and loved ones,” he said.
“(We’re) certainly grateful to the first responders, the RCMP, the health workers for their support and work on this and I can say that we continue to cooperate with the RCMP.”
Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the crash on Highway 97C last night, especially the loved ones of the four people who were tragically killed. @BCEHS transported 52 patients to 4 InteriorHealth hospitals with minor or life-threatening injuries. 8 patients are still in care this morning
— Adrian Dix (@adriandix) December 25, 2022
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Ebus, a sister company of Red Arrow Bus Company, offers service through the Alberta cities of Edmonton, Red Deer, Calgary and Fort McMurray, as well as from Vancouver to the interior of British Columbia .
Interior Health implemented a Code Orange response, which indicates a disaster or mass casualty event, in the hours following the crash. Additional critical care staff were added in areas such as emergency departments, medical imaging and surgery.
DriveBC, the communications arm of the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation, said the stretch of road was cleared and reopened shortly before 8:30 a.m. local time Sunday.
The ministry issued a traffic advisory after the highway reopened warning of poor driving conditions on roads in the southern Interior due to snow and freezing rain.
The ministry urged drivers to avoid non-essential travel, exercise caution and be prepared for short-term highway closures if they must hit the roads.
British Columbia Premier David Eby, Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth, Health Minister Adrian Dix and Transportation Minister Rob Fleming issued a joint statement Saturday evening expressing their shock and sadness. because of the accident
“Our thoughts are with those affected by the accident, their loved ones and the first responders and healthcare workers who are giving their all to treat people and keep them safe,” the statement said.
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