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Christmas Eve bus crash sends 53 to hospital, prompting 'code orange' at multiple IH hospitals

Crash sends 53 to hospital

Chelsea Powrie - Dec 25, 2022 / 8:30 am | Story: 403216

UPDATE: 8:30 a.m.

Highway 97C the Okanagan Connector is now open following Saturday's bus crash that sent 53 people to hospital.

The highway was closed for about 13 hours while RCMP investigated the crash and crews cleaned up the area.

The Ebus, travelling westbound toward Vancouver crashed about 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

Passersby said the bus was lying on its side.

UPDATE: 7:30 a.m.

The Okanagan Connector remains closed this morning following a Christmas Eve bus crash that sent more than 50 people to hospitals across the Southern Interior.

DriveBC advises it will update the situation later this morning.

There has been no word on whether anyone was killed in the crash, nor on the condition of any patients.

Interior Health has set up an information line for families looking for more details on loved ones. The number is 250-545-2211.

Operators can advise of patient locations for those in care, IH tweeted.

"Our thoughts are with all of the patients, families and our first responders impacted by these events ... We will make every effort to connect families with patients as soon as possible."

"Our thoughts are with those impacted by the crash, their loved ones, and the first responders and health-care workers giving their all to treat people and keep them safe,” a joint statement from Premier David Eby, Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth, Health Minister Adrian Dix and Minister of Transportation Rob Fleming stated overnight.

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 has sent 53 people to hospital.

Health Minister Adrian Dix took to social media Saturday night to say a "code orange" has been activated through Interior Health, which is a term used to describe "disaster or mass casualty."

Fifty-three patients are currently being transported to 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 responded immediately to the call," Dix wrote on Twitter.

Premier David Eby also responded on social media, saying he is "shocked and saddened" by the news of the serious bus crash.

The passenger vehicle, operated by Alberta-based company Ebus, was found by witnesses and first responders flipped on its side on Highway 97C sometime shortly after 7 p.m. Saturday night. It had been bound for Vancouver.

Ebus director John Stepovy, when reached by phone Saturday night, said he wanted to "first and foremost" send thoughts and well wishes to passengers.

"Safety of our passengers is the priority here and I mean, obviously we're working with the RCMP and are cooperating and we don't really know much else at this point in time," Stepovy said.

Stepovy said Ebus drivers are meticulously trained for driving in all conditions, including winter.

"We've had many trips over these past couple of days in tough conditions," Stepovy said.

"We don't know what happened today. There's an ongoing investigation, and we'll know more soon, I would imagine, but this only happened shortly ago, so there's not much information."

Michaela Swan with Interior Health said they are not in a position to comment on patient conditions at this time, as medical assessments are still underway.

"We will make every effort to connect families with patients once they are received and assessed 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 there 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 when 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.

RCMP have confirmed that police and Emergency Health Services are currently on scene assessing the situation, not far from Loon Lake.

As the matter is still unfolding, police told Castanet they could not provide further details at this time. They said updates will come when possible.

Debbie Mitchell was travelling on the Connector heading from the Okanagan toward Merritt when she came across the crash. She said she believes she happened upon the scene just minutes after the crash and reports seeing a passenger bus on its side.

"There were lots of people standing along the road, lots of debris," she told Castanet, noting that a few police vehicles were already on scene.

She said she was unsure whether other vehicles were involved.

"Roads were fairly bare but raining and slippery," she said.

Police were unable to comment on the status of the passengers at this time.

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 stretches from Peachland to 22 kilometres east of Merritt, for a total of 81.6 kilometres.

DriveBC reports an assessment is in progress.

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