Tour bus crash closes Coq

UPDATED 3 P.M. JUNE 28

MERRITT, B.C. - Police say it could be weeks before charges are laid after a weekend collision involving a tour bus in British Columbia's Central Interior sent more than three dozen people to hospitals across the region.

A bus rammed into a tow truck and a car parked on the shoulder of the Coquihalla Highway, about 40 kilometres south of Merritt, B.C., shortly before 10 a.m. on Saturday.

RCMP Cpl. Chris Newel said charges are expected following the crash, which snarled traffic on the busy highway for hours.

"There are still lots of questions to be answered and investigation to be conducted," said Newel on Sunday.

The collision left 38 people injured, including two who were airlifted to hospital in serious condition.

By Sunday morning nearly all of the 25 people taken to hospitals in Merritt, Kamloops and Kelowna had been released, said Darshan Lindsay, a spokeswoman for the Interior Health Authority.

"We have two patients remaining in hospital in Kamloops and Kelowna," said Lindsay. "The remainder were discharged throughout the day and into the evening and night yesterday."

The other thirteen people injured in the crash were taken to hospital in Hope, B.C. The Fraser Health Authority was unable to say how many remain in care.

An employee at Universal Coach Lines in Richmond, B.C., confirmed that one of the company's buses was involved in the collision but declined to give further information. A worker at Mario's Towing said the crash involved a truck belonging to the Kelowna-based towing company but that the owners were unavailable for comment.

Newel said the car's driver had called for a tow truck after hitting a deer. The truck driver was outside talking to the occupants of the car when the bus struck, he said.

Newel said the RCMP received reports that the tour guide was ejected from the bus and ended up in a creek below the highway.

The guide and tow truck operator suffered serious injuries but are expected to recover, while the car's driver and passenger were also injured, he said.

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UPDATED 7:04 p.m.

Mounties expect to recommend charges after a tour bus slammed into a tow truck and a car in British Columbia's Southern Interior, sending dozens to hospital and snarling traffic on Saturday.

B.C. Emergency Health Services said two people were airlifted to hospital in serious condition and about 36 others suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

The crash happened just before 10 a.m. on the Coquihalla Highway near Brookmere, B.C., about 40 kilometres south of Merritt.

Wendy Georgenson said the tow truck was just hooking onto the car when the bus crashed into it. Several people were standing around the truck at the time, she said.

"That's where one guy broke his leg. One guy was holding his ribs and puking. They were screaming. It was mayhem," she said. "Then the bus hit the railing and it was like out of a movie. It was just horrible."

An employee at Universal Coach Line in Richmond, B.C., confirmed one of its tour buses was involved in the crash, but declined to give further information.

RCMP Cpl. Chris Newel said an investigation is in its early stages but charges are pending.

"They are gathering evidence that maybe this could have been avoided, and we will take it from there," he said.

Newel said the car's driver had called for a tow truck after crashing into a deer. The car was pulled over to the side of the highway when the truck arrived.

The truck driver was outside talking to the occupants of the car when the bus struck, he said.

Newel said the RCMP received reports that the tour guide was ejected from the bus and fell into the creek below the highway.

The guide and tow truck operator suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries, while the car's driver and passenger were also injured, he said.

Newel said there were 30 people on the bus and many sustained minor injuries.

Interior Health said 25 people, most with non-life-threatening injuries, were admitted to hospitals in Kelowna, Kamloops and Merritt, B.C. Patients were also being accepted in Hope, B.C.

About a dozen ground ambulances and four air ambulances responded to the scene. Merritt Fire sent tents and a command vehicle.

C.J. Hodgson said she was travelling southbound at around 10:30 a.m. when she passed a tour bus with severe damage to its front end.

"The front third or so of the bus is either ripped off or smashed in. It's wide open. You can see into the bus," she said.

She said the hoods of a tow truck and a small car were smashed in and the air bags were inflated.

Drive B.C. said northbound traffic at Exit 250 reopened about eight hours after the accident, just after 6 p.m. Southbound traffic had also been reduced to a single lane earlier in the day.

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UPDATED: 3:28 P.M.

Sgt. Mike Pears of the Kamloops RCMP has confirmed in a statement the tow truck was pulled over on the side of the road when it was struck by the tour bus.

He said they expect the road closure or delays to remain in place until 8:00 p.m. DriveBC has confirmed the southbound lane is now fully open.

A vehicle had struck a deer earlier that morning and called the tow truck, because the vehicle was no longer drivable. While the tow truck driver getting the tow ready, the tour bus hit the truck from behind. 

The tour guide and the tow truck driver sustained serious, but not life-threatening injuries. 

The investigation is still in the early stages, but charges are pending. 

UPDATED: 2:40 P.M.

B.C. Emergency Health Services has confirmed that two people are in serious condition and approximately 36 people have non-life-threatening injuries, following the accident. 

The injured have been taken to hospitals in Kelowna, Kamloops, Hope, Chilliwack and Merritt.

B.C. Emergency Health Services said the tow truck involved in the accident was assisting a broken down vehicle, when it was hit from behind by the bus. 

Approximately 12 ambulances, two air ambulances and two fire trucks responded to the accident.

ORIGINAL: 12:26 P.M.

Emergency crews are responding to a serious crash on the Coquihalla Highway.

The three-vehicle crash happened Saturday morning just south of Brookmere, about 40 kilometres south of Merritt.

Kyla Guido says she was travelling southbound when she saw a northbound tour bus with a damaged front end and a shattered windshield.

She says a tow truck was sideways on the highway with damage, and a small red car also appeared to have significant damage.

Guido says at least two passengers were lying on the road.

Drive B.C. is reporting the highway is closed northbound at Exit 250 and southbound traffic is reduced to a single lane.

Several ground ambulances and two air ambulances are responding, with as many as 20 patients.

Merritt Fire is sending tents and a command vehicle to the scene.

- With files from The Canadian Press