Photo: Provided by BC RCMP
On Nov. 22, 2024, BC Highway Patrol say they have met with victims and families of a school bus crash to explain how the collision that hurt more than 30 people, and led to the death of one pedestrian, was a tragic accident with no criminality.
On June 21, 2024, at 1:00 p.m., a school bus full of 31 children and four adults drove off the road and into a ditch on Highway 97 just north of Lac La Hache, BC. There were many injuries ranging from bruises to broken bones.
“BC Highway Patrol wrote search warrants, reviewed in-car computers and video evidence, took witness statements, and carefully examined the scene,
” says Corporal Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol. “The evidence shows that the driver of the school bus was the subject of a medical event and there was no criminality associated to this tragic collision.
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The 60-year-old driver of the school bus, a Cariboo resident, is still recovering from serious injuries. She will not be charged with any offences.
Immediately following the school bus crash, an unrelated vehicle stopped to help the victims. One of the good Samaritans, a man in his seventies, was struck and killed by a SUV driving on Highway 97. Police talked to more witnesses, brought in collision analysts to inspect the scene, and examined in-car computer data to learn what happened.
“There were no signs of impairment, carelessness, or distraction from the driver of the SUV, and the vehicle was going below the speed limit,
” says Corporal McLaughlin. “The SUV driver could not see the aftermath of the bus collision due to a bend in the highway, and the driver’s last-second efforts to evade the pedestrian did not work.
BC Highway Patrol and 100 Mile RCMP Victim’s Services met with the families of the victims at 100 Mile House Elementary School last night (November 21, 2024) to explain the results of the investigation and answer questions. School District 27 has provided counsellors for affected students and is encouraging them to reach out to their principal to arrange support.
“This collision deeply affected this small community, and we want them to know that we examined every detail,
” added Corporal McLaughlin. “The outcome is still tragic, but at least they are not left in the dark about how it happened.
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