Photo: Google Maps
UPDATE: 10:30 p.m
A passenger bus involved in a major crash on the Okanagan Connector on Christmas Eve was operated by Ebus, Castanet has confirmed, an incident that sent 53 people to hospital.
Health Minister Adrian Dix said on social media on Saturday night that a “code orange” had been activated through Home Health, which is a term used to describe “disaster or mass casualties”. .
Fifty-three patients are being transported or treated at Penticton Regional Hospital, Kelowna General Hospital and Nicola Valley Hospital, according to Interior Health Director Michaela Swan.
“In these situations, Interior Health activates staff in critical care areas such as the emergency department, medical imaging and surgery to support urgent patients. My deepest gratitude to the first responders and medical teams who immediately responded to the call,” Dix wrote on Twitter. .
Prime Minister David Eby also responded on social media, saying he was “shocked and saddened” by the news of the serious bus crash.
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
The passenger vehicle, operated by Alberta-based company Ebus, was found by witnesses and first responders overturned on the side of Highway 97C shortly after 7pm on Saturday night. He had gone to Vancouver.
Ebus director John Stepovy, when reached by phone Saturday night, said he wanted “first and foremost” to send thoughts and good wishes to passengers.
“The safety of our passengers is the priority here and I mean, obviously we’re working with the RCMP and we’re cooperating and we really don’t know much else at this point,” Stepovy said.
Stepovy said Ebus drivers are meticulously trained to drive in all conditions, including winter.
“We’ve made a lot of trips these past few days in difficult conditions,” Stepovy said.
“We don’t know what happened today. There’s an ongoing investigation, and we’ll know more soon, I imagine, but this only happened recently, so there’s not a lot of information.”
Interior Health’s Michaela Swan said they are not in a position to comment on the patients’ conditions at this time as medical assessments are still ongoing.
“We will do our best to connect with families with patients once they are received and evaluated at our hospitals,” Swan said.
UPDATE: 8:50 p.m
BC Emergency Health Services says they have “multiple ground units” on scene near the Loon Lake exit on Highway 97C Saturday night.
A passenger bus crashed into it shortly before 7:30 p.m
BC EHS reports more ground units are on the way. It remains an active scene and they will provide updates as they become available.
More to come…
UPDATE: 8:20 p.m
A passenger bus was involved in a major crash that has closed the Okanagan Connector on Christmas Eve.
The RCMP has confirmed that police and emergency medical services are currently on the scene assessing the situation, not far from Loon Lake.
Because the matter is still developing, police told Castanet they could not provide further details at this time. They said updates will come when possible.
Debbie Mitchell was traveling on the connector heading from the Okanagan to Merritt when she encountered the accident. He said he believes he happened upon the scene within minutes of the crash and reports seeing a passenger bus next to it.
“There were a lot of people standing on the road, a lot of debris,” he told Castanet, noting that several police vehicles were already at the scene.
She said she wasn’t sure if there were other vehicles involved.
“The roads were pretty bare, but it was raining and slippery,” he said.
At this time, police have not been able to comment on the condition of the passengers.
More to come…
ORIGINAL: 7:30 p.m
Highway 97C, the Okanagan Connector, is closed in both directions due to a vehicle incident between the Highway 97 junction and Aspen Grove.
The closure extends from Peachland to 14 miles east of Merritt, for a total of 50 miles.
DriveBC reports that an evaluation is underway.