ABOVE: Friends and co-workers remember Dave Woodard
TORONTO – A memorial service was held Wednesday for Dave Woodard, the driver of city bus that was involved in a deadly collision with a Via Rail train last month.
On Sept. 18, six people were killed and more than 30 were injured when an OC Transpo bus collided with a Via Rail train in Ottawa’s west end.
One victim remains in Ottawa Hospital’s Civic campus in satisfactory condition. A Queensway spokesperson said Monday their final three patients had been released.
Woodard, 45, was among the fatalities.
READ MORE: Family, friends pay tribute to bus driver killed in Ottawa bus crash
In honour of his memory, family and friends were invited to wear green— Woodard’s favourite colour – at the service, while OC Transpo bus drivers were encouraged to wear shorts due to Woodard’s “love of wearing shorts even into the winter months.”
READ MORE: Widow of Ottawa bus driver says husband was in good health prior to fatal crash
More than 1, 400 people attended the service, including an honour guard of 300 OC Transpo drivers.
“There was so much good in Dave. It was all around him and it flowed out of him,” said Woodard’s friend Blair Bisson.
The day after Woodard’s death, his wife Terry turned to Facebook to express her anguish.
Last week, funeral services were held for crash victims Karen Krzyzewski, Rob More and Kyle Nash.
READ MORE: Funerals for 3 Ottawa bus crash victims held Thursday
Connor Boyd, a 21-year-old Carleton University student, was the first of the victims to be buried on September 23.
On September 20, Transportation Safety Board investigators said that the safety gates, lights and bells at the level crossing were functioning as they were supposed to and had been activated 47 seconds prior to impact.
Investigators are now examining why Woodard did not stop for the passing train at the marked level crossing.
– With a file from Rebecca Lindell, Global News
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