This morning at approximately 8:20 a.m., RCMP and emergency services responded to a two vehicle collision on Highway 35 north of Grimshaw. The collision involved a school bus and a semi-truck and has resulted in one fatality, the school bus driver, and injuries to the occupants of both vehicles. The 60 year old male driver of the school bus died while enroute to hospital. His name is not being released at this time.
At the time of the collision, there were 14 school age passengers on board the school bus enroute to Peace River area schools. The passengers are of both elementary school and high school age. Injuries include:
– Six school bus passengers incurred minor injuries and are being treated at hospital.
– Seven school bus passengers incurred more serious injuries including broken limbs and other non-life threatening injuries and they are also being treated at hospital.
– One school bus passenger has been flown to an Edmonton area hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.
– The 36 year old male driver of the semi-truck has also been flown to an Edmonton area hospital with serious undetermined injuries which are believed to be non-life threatening.
The collision occurred on Highway 35 and Township 835 which has two lanes north and one lane south. Preliminary investigation indicates that the semi-truck driver was driving north in the far right lane of the two northbound lanes (slow lane) and the school bus was southbound when it allegedly crossed the centre line. The collision occurred approximately 10 km north of Grimshaw.
Numerous RCMP resources are investigating the collision including an RCMP Traffic Reconstructionist, a team of Traffic Investigators and RCMP Peace Regional Detachment members. Police continue to investigate the factors which contributed to the collision. An update will be provided when new information becomes available.
