BC school bus crash: Investigation reveals no signs of wrongdoing

The investigation into a school bus crash that occurred near Lac La Hache, B.C., earlier this year, which injured dozens of people and killed a Good Samaritan, has concluded that the incident was nothing short of a tragic accident, RCMP said Friday.

The yellow school bus was carrying students from 100 Mile Elementary School and Horse Lake Elementary School when it veered off Highway 97 and went down an embankment on the afternoon of June 21.

Authorities said there were 31 children and 4 adults on board and that they suffered injuries ranging from bruises to broken bones.

An elderly person who pulled over to help after the accident also died after being hit by an SUV.

After a months-long investigation that included search warrants, video evidence and witness interviews, the BC Highway Patrol determined no foul play was found in the collision.

“The evidence indicates that the school bus driver suffered a medical event,” said Cpl. Michael McLaughlin said in a press release.

McLaughlin added that the driver, a 60-year-old Cariboo resident, “is still recovering from serious injuries” and will not face criminal charges.

The investigation also found no evidence that the driver of the SUV that struck the Good Samaritan was impaired, distracted or otherwise inattentive while behind the wheel.

“The SUV driver was unable to see the aftermath of the bus collision due to the bend in the highway, and the driver’s last-minute efforts to avoid the pedestrian were in vain,” McLaughlin said.

The BC Highway Patrol said its members met with the victims and their families to explain the findings of the investigation.

“This collision deeply affected this small community and we want them to know that we are looking into every detail,” McLaughlin said. “The outcome is still tragic, but at least they’re not left in the dark about how it happened.”

The crash has sparked new calls to make seat belts mandatory on school buses in BC and Canada. While Transport Canada requires seat belts in most vehicles, it does not require seat belts in school buses.

Seat belts can provide “additional protection” for school-age children on buses, but can also have a “negative impact” on safety if not worn or used properly, according to a statement on the agency’s website.

“Making sure all children are properly buckled up in a 70-passenger school bus is much more difficult than in a five-passenger car or seven-passenger minivan,” the website states.

“That’s one of the reasons why we allow provinces, territories and school bus operators to decide whether or not to require seat belts.”

The BC government began using three-point seat belts on buses in two school districts (Fraser-Cascade and Nanaimo-Ladysmith) in 2020 and 2021 as part of a pilot project.