A group of Winnipeg students had a close call on Wednesday evening when a charter bus collided with a semi-truck on the Trans-Canada Highway in southeastern Saskatchewan. Fortunately, all the students, approximately 40 in total, were unharmed in the incident, but the bus driver suffered injuries.
The group of students from Maples Collegiate had been on a music trip in Edmonton and were heading back home on three charter buses. The accident occurred when one of the buses crashed into the back of the semi-truck east of Sintaluta. The crash happened during a heavy spring storm that hit the southeastern Saskatchewan area and northwestern Manitoba, making travel conditions treacherous.
Seven Oaks School Division superintendent Brian O’Leary confirmed that all the students and staff on the bus were fine and no one was injured. The bus driver, however, was injured in the collision. Photos posted to a Facebook group showed the damaged bus and semi-trailer.
Parents of the students were notified by phone on Wednesday night, and a written statement was sent out on Thursday morning. The school staff and the bus company decided to wait for icy and snowy conditions to clear before returning back to Winnipeg.
In the meantime, the students have been staying at schools in nearby Saskatchewan communities of Wolseley and Indian Head, who have generously extended their hospitality to the students involved in the crash.
It is a relief to hear that all the students are safe and that the community has come together to support them during this time. The incident is a reminder to all of us about the importance of caution when travelling during adverse weather conditions.