A head-on collision involving a school bus and pickup truck in Deroche on Wednesday (April 17) left both drivers with injuries but no students were hurt, Mission RCMP say.
The collision occurred after 5 p.m. on Lougheed Highway (Highway 7) near Johnson Road. Mission RCMP say the Ford Ranger pickup reportedly swerved into oncoming traffic while driving westbound and collided with the bus.
“The school bus driver attempted to avoid being hit, but was unable to fully avoid the collision,” Mission RCMP said in a social media post.
Mounties say the cause of the collision is still under investigation but it is not believed that impairment was a factor.
BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) sent seven ground ambulances, a paramedic supervisor and an air ambulance to respond.
Two students were on the bus and police say no injuries were reported for the kids. However, the bus driver sustained minor injuries and was transported to hospital via ground ambulance.
The driver of the pickup truck was airlifted to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening leg injuries, according to Mission RCMP.
Mission Public School District (MPSD) superintendent Angus Wilson says the district is grateful the driver and two students were not seriously hurt.
“We have to commend the skill of our bus driver for managing to keep the bus on the road so that it wasn’t a more serious accident, which speaks to his professionalism,” Wilson said. Wilson says the Deroche Elementary principal and secretary attended the scene to support the students until family arrived. Counselling will also be available to the students moving forward.
The superintendent expects the bus will be out of commission but the district has a backup. Lougheed Highway was closed to traffic in both directions near Johnson Road for several hours on Wednesday night while a collision investigation took place.
The highway is now reopened.
Those with information are urged to contact Mission RCMP at 604-826-7161.