B.C. bus company to be audited after Coquihalla crash that injured 38

B.C. Ministry of Transportation to audit Richmond-based Universal Coach Lines

BY KELLY SINOSKI, VANCOUVER SUN JUNE 28, 2015 7:34 PM

30 people have been injured, two seriously, in a multi-vehicle accident on Coquihalla Highway near Merritt B.C.

Photograph by: VSA Maintenance , Twitter

The B.C. Ministry of Transportation said it will conduct an audit of Richmond-based Universal Coach Lines after a crash Saturday sent 38 to hospital.

The company's tour bus slammed into a car and set off a multiple-vehicle crash that closed the northbound lane on the Coquihalla Highway in B.C.'s southern Interior for most of the day.

The ministry said it is working closely with the RCMP to investigate the cause of the crash, including a review of UCL's drivers and the mechanical operation of its buses.

"I understand the road was bare and dry and the incident happened on a straight section of highway," said the minister in a statement.

B.C. Mounties said Sunday charges are pending, but it could be weeks before any are laid.

"There are still lots of questions to be answered," said RCMP Cpl. Chris Newel.

The crash was triggered by a chain reaction that started with a collision between a vehicle and a deer. The owner of the car had called for a tow truck, but shortly after the truck arrived, it was struck by the tour bus, which was headed northbound just south of Brookmere, B.C., about 40 kilometres south of Merritt.

The three-vehicle crash brought traffic to a standstill as emergency crews, including at least two helicopters and 12 ambulances, responded to the crash and the northbound lane was closed to traffic.

The Interior Health Authority said Sunday all but two of the 25 patients in its care had been discharged. It did not release details about the condition of the two remaining patients, except to say one is in Kelowna and the other in Kamloops.

The BC Ambulance Service said on Saturday two people suffered life-threatening injuries.

Hospitals in the Fraser Health Authority took in 13 patients after the crash. None sustained serious injuries, but the authority didn't say how many were still in hospital.

RCMP said both the tour guide, who was reportedly working for Universal Coach Lines, and the tow truck operator — from Mario's Towing in Kelowna — sustained serious injuries.

Wendy Georgenson said the tow truck was just hooking onto the car when the bus crashed into it. About five people were standing around the truck at the time, she said.

"That's where one guy broke his leg. One guy was holding his ribs and puking. They were screaming. It was mayhem," she said. "Then the bus hit the railing and it was like out of a movie. It was just horrible."

C.J. Hodgson said she was travelling southbound at around 10:30 a.m. when she passed a tour bus with severe damage to its front end. "The front third or so of the bus is either ripped off or smashed in. It's wide open. You can see into the bus,'' she said.

She said the hoods of a tow truck and a small car were smashed in and the airbags were inflated.

Hodgson said the bus appeared to have crashed into a highway railing and a handful of people were looking over it at the drop below. Another group of people were standing on the road.

"It's scary, especially with the people looking over the edge," said Hodgson. "It's a big drop. If they're looking for something other than their belongings, that's scary."

Kyla Guido was driving southbound when she saw the smashed tour bus in the northbound lane. She said she saw at least two passengers lying on the road.

She said the tow truck was sideways on the highway with damage, and a small red car also appeared to have significant damage.

The crash prompted Merritt's Nicola Valley Hospital to issue a Code Orange, which included bringing in more nurses and housekeeping staff to prepare the hospital for a potential influx of patients, while Fraser Health Authority, which operates hospitals east of Vancouver, was also prepping its hospitals, particularly for serious or critical cases.

"We were informed very shortly after it happened for the potential of some of these patients coming to our hospitals," said Fraser Health spokeswoman Lisa Thibault. "They just ensure everyone is on alert and space is cleared out if required. Obviously anytime there are mass casualties we coordinate efforts to take care of patients when they come in."

The crash occurred not far from another one last August, involving a B.C. tour bus.

Charges pending after bus crash on Coquihalla Highway injures dozens

VANCOUVER — Police say it could be weeks before charges are laid in connection with a serious collision involving a tour bus and a tow truck on the Coquihalla Highway Saturday.

The crash–which occurred near Exit 250 just south of Brookmere, B.C., about 40 kilometres south of Merritt–involved a tour bus with Richmond-based Universal Coach Lines and a tow truck. Several people were ejected from the bus, according to reports.

In total, 38 people were sent to nearby hospitals, according to B.C. Emergency Health Services. They say two were airlifted to hospitals in Kelowna and Kamloops, while the rest were transported to hospitals in Kamloops, Merritt, Hope, Chilliwack and Kelowna.

The Coquihalla was closed to northbound traffic at Exit 250 well into the evening. Southbound traffic was reduced to a single lane following the crash, but has since fully reopened.

Barbara Cheng, owner of Universal Coach Lines, is heading to the scene and has confirmed to Global News her bus was involved in the crash. She says it was travelling from Vancouver to Kelowna, and many passengers have already been discharged from a hospital in Merritt.

Hours after the crash, Merritt RCMP confirmed that despite the wreckage, there was no one with life-threatening injuries.

“It’s very fortunate. It could have been much, much worse,” said Cpl. Chris Newel.

Bus hit tow truck

Photo of a tow truck hit by a tour bus on the Coquihalla on June 27, 2015.

@SemiRigged/Twitter

Photo of a tow truck hit by a tour bus on the Coquihalla on June 27, 2015.

@SemiRigged/Twitter

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According to witnesses, the accident happened when the bus struck a tow truck, which was assisting a small red car that hit and killed a deer.

“A deer ran into the road, and hit the red car,” said Jess Heer, who was driving northbound to Kamloops when he saw the original accident.

“The people in the car were fine. We pushed the car out of the way, moved it off of the road…we calmed everyone down and then left.”

Heer said even though they pushed the car to the shoulder, it wasn’t completely safe from oncoming traffic.

“They come up that hill pretty fast [and] on that highway the shoulder isn’t big enough for a full car,” he said.

“A lot of people were braking at the last minute, it is such a hazardous spot.”

The tow truck was owned by Mario’s Towing, a full-service towing company based in Kelowna. They told Global News that “management is currently dealing with the situation and will answer any questions on Monday.”

C.J. Hodgson said she was travelling southbound at around 10:30 a.m. when she passed the tour bus.

“The front third or so of the bus is either ripped off or smashed in. It’s wide open. You can see into the bus,” she said.

She said the hoods of a tow truck and a small car were smashed in and the air bags were inflated.

Hodgson said the bus appeared to have crashed into a highway railing and a handful of people were looking over it at the drop below. Another group of people were standing on the road.

“It’s scary, especially with the people looking over the edge,” said Hodgson. “It’s a big drop. If they’re looking for something other than their belongings, that’s scary.”

Last year, dozens of tour bus passengers were injured in a crash 30 kilometres south of Merritt.

Charges pending

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Merritt RCMP say they are looking into the actions of the bus driver, and charges are pending.

“The investigation is in its early stages but charges are pending,” said Sgt. Mike Pears in a statement.

“Police would like to remind persons of the ‘Slow down, move over’ legislation that requires vehicles to slow to 70 kmh and move over when passing emergency vehicles and tow trucks.”

READ MORE: Slow down and move over for “official vehicles” or face a stiff fine in 2015

The Ministry of Transportation says that Universal Coach Lines has had no major incidents or safety concerns in recent years. However, transportation staff will be working with the RCMP on a full review of the company’s safety record.

Cpl. Newel said the bus was transporting tourists. He said serious injuries were suffered by the tow truck driver, the driver of the small red car, and two people inside the bus.

He said that in many ways, it’s a fortunate result.

“Given the type of collision that took place and the vehicles that were there, it could have been much worse.”