Bus crash on the Coquihalla

[coffeeFreak]

Bus crash on the Coquihalla
by Trevor Rockliffe - Story: 83581
Nov 21, 2012 / 7:59 pm

A major accident on the Coquihalla near Kamloops has emergency crews scrambling.

Witnesses report that a semi, a charter bus and several cars have crashed into each other.

Poor weather conditions are hampering the rescue.

There is unconfirmed reports that a truck driver was struck when he got out of his rig to check on the accident.

As of 7:30 p.m. several ambulances were on the scene taking the injured to hospital.

We do not know how many people have been hurt.

The northbound lanes of the highway are blocked off.

http://www.castanet.net/news/BC/83581/Bus-crash-on-the-Coquihalla

[grumpies daughter]

I am getting reports of a huge crash on the coq. Twenty cars, possibly 30 injured, anyone else hearing anything?

[Bsuds]

http://www.castanet.net/news/BC/83581/B ... Coquihalla

[fall]

It really is the highway thru hell!!

[oneh2obabe]

viewtopic.php?f=26&t=47616

[grumpies daughter]

Northbound closed, RCMP now requesting that southbound also be closed so that emergency vehicles can get to the scene

[gardengirl]

That's craziness. We drove back from Vancouver and the whole way it was bare and wet. We got home at about 4pm.

[oneh2obabe]

Update: BC Ambulance reports 5 patients are in critical condition at Royal Inland Hospital, 22 others have lesser, non life-threatening, injuries.

[Ken7]

Has there been any information, on what bus involved?

Thanks

[grammafreddy]

Has there been any information, on what bus involved?

Thanks

There's pics here: http://www.castanet.net/news/BC/83581/B ... Coquihalla

[oneh2obabe]

Witnesses report that a semi, a charter bus and several cars have crashed into each other.

[grumpies daughter]

Apparantly, bus was full of seniors

[oneh2obabe]

Multiple injuries in B.C. highway pileup
CBC News
Posted: Nov 21, 2012 7:59 PM PT
Last Updated: Nov 22, 2012 12:39 AM PT

A multi-vehicle collision on a B.C. highway sent more than 20 people to hospital late Wednesday.

The accident, which involved two semi-trucks, a bus carrying seniors and three cars, happened at around 6:30 p.m. PT during a snowstorm on B.C.'s Coquihalla Highway near Kamloops.

Ben Mittelsteadt of the BC Ambulance Service said eight ambulances were initially dispatched to the scene on the mountain highway east of Vancouver.

Initial reports said that five people had been critically injured, but officials now say there were no serious injuries.

Some of the injured were transported to Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, about 15 kilometres north of the accident scene. Day staff were asked to stay on at the hospital and five other physicians were called in as space was cleared in the emergency room.

A Kamloops Fire Department spokesman said the bus, carrying as many as 35 seniors, was wedged against a semi-trailer, trapping passengers in the vehicle and that the jaws of life had to be used to create an opening in the bus.

Police said a vehicle slid on a curve, blocked the highway and caused a chain reaction.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-c ... ident.html

[Fancy]

http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Cras ... story.html

A bus full of seniors collided with a semi-trailer truck stopped on the Coquihalla on Wednesday night, striking the truck driver and triggering a chain reaction of collisions in icy, snowy conditions.

A Canada West coach returning to Kamloops from Merritt, slammed against the side of the semi around 6: 45 p.m., one kilometre south of the Inks Lake turnoff.

Another semi travelling immediately behind the coach was unable to stop in time and hit the back of the bus.

"All of a sudden, it was wall to wall wheels," said the driver of the second semi, who didn't want to give his name. He didn't see the initial crash.

The semi driver was taken to hospital with severe injuries.

A Ford Explorer was sand-iched between the second semi and the curb, while a fifth vehicle, an older-model sedan, crashed into the curb behind it.

About 30 passengers were trapped on the bus for an hour or more as first responders, including paramedics and Kamloops Fire and Rescue, worked to remove them safely.

"We're trying to figure out how to get the passengers off the bus at this point," said RCMP Const. Jason Epp.

Diesel fuel spilled from the first semi, prompting rescuers to set fire extinguishers nearby as a precaution.

They had to smash open the front window of the bus, triage the passengers, then carefully remove them one by one, starting with those suspected of having injuries. The first, who complained of leg pains, was removed on a spine board. Two Canada West staff members from Kamloops arrived to lend assistance.

RIH called in extra staff to receive an expected 20 to 30 patients, as many as six of them critically injured.

The accident occurred around 6: 45 p.m. in blizzard conditions. The road surface was a virtual ice rink. Highway plows were clearing the road and spreading gravel to assist in the rescue.

"We were coming through a total whiteout," said Richard Smith from Surrey. He was stuck in a lineup that stretched for kilometres to the brake check at the top of the hill. Traffic was halted in both directions because southbound semi-trailer trucks, once they'd stopped, couldn't start on the hill without putting on chains.

The highway was expected to remain closed in the northbound lane until between midnight and 4 a.m. Southbound traffic began moving shortly before 8 p.m.



Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Cras ... z2CxbG2Ax3

[Liquidnails]

A good reminder to drive with your wits about you and have a good set of winter tires. That road sure can get ugly.