Two dead and others injured in Vancouver Island bus rollover

PORT ALBERNI, B.C. — Two people have died and others were badly injured and have been airlifted to hospital in Victoria after a bus rollover on Vancouver Island.

The accident happened on a gravel road between the communities of Port Alberni and Bamfield, and the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre (JRCC) in Victoria said it received a call for assistance at around 10 p.m. local time.

Air Force Captain David Burneau said there were 48 people on the bus, all of them believed to be adults, and that three in either critical or very serious condition were flown by helicopter to a Victoria medical centre.

Cst. Doug Pennington with the RCMP’s Central Vancouver Island Traffic Services says the charter bus was heading to Bamfield when it went off the roadway and down an embankment.
Search and Rescue officials helped secure the bus and bring those on board up to the road.

Burneau said the JRCC sent two Cormorant helicopters and one Buffalo search and rescue aircraft from 442 Squadron in Comox to help with the rescue effort.

He said the Port Alberni Fire Department arranged transport for the rest of the bus passengers to Port Alberni where some were treated for minor injuries.

The cause of the crash is under investigation by the RCMP.

The Canadian Press

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