Police were working Friday to determine the cause of a fiery bus crash in Calgary that killed three passengers and injured 16 others, including a police officer who helped save a child.
Two transit buses and several other vehicles were involved in the chain-reaction crash just after 1 p.m. Thursday, along the 800 block of Saddletowne Circle N.E., a busy road in the city’s northeast.
Police said one Calgary Transit bus first struck a truck, which then side-swiped an SUV and hit the back of a box truck.
The bus then hit the back of a sedan, pushing the vehicle through the intersection. That car then hit a truck.
The bus eventually hit the rear of another City of Calgary bus running on compressed natural gas.
A large, fierce fire broke out on top of the bus as it also hit a sedan and then came to a stop, with flames and thick, black smoke shooting from the roof.
Get daily National news
“During the collision, the natural gas tanks on the second bus ignited. The second bus continued forward before striking a sedan,” said a news release.
“Within seconds, the fire intensified resulting in an explosion and significant fire inside the bus.
“Three passengers on the second bus were found deceased.”
The driver of that bus was able to escape, police said, while the driver of the first bus was trapped, had to be extricated, and was taken to hospital with what police said were life-altering injuries.
“In the middle of the chaos, one brave Calgary police officer ran into a burning bus to save the life of a child,” Mayor Jeromy Farkas said Thursday.
Police said the officer was recovering at home and that she and the others who were hurt had minor injuries.
- 2 seriously hurt, 11 others injured in B.C. crash that shut down Highway 99
- Quebec author abandons effort to document novel’s origins amid AI allegations
- Backstreet Boys’ 12-show Toronto run offers millennials a ticket to simpler times
- Stellantis workers begin voting on strike mandate as talks remain stalled
The three who died have been identified and their families notified.
Emergency Health Services Alberta said 10 other people were taken to hospital: nine adults and one youth. One of the adults was in critical condition and the other nine were in non-life-threatening condition. On Thursday, paramedics said six other people were also injured, but not as severely.
The mayor said there would be a full investigation into what happened.
“At this time, it is too early to determine whether impairment, speed or distraction contributed to the collision,” added police.
“All possible factors remain under investigation.”
Mike Mahar, the head of Calgary’s transit union, said Thursday that it’s not clear why the fire was so extreme and that natural gas buses are generally safe.
Calgary Transit says on its website that it has nearly 250 compressed natural gas-powered buses, representing about 20 per cent of its fleet.
It says it acquired this type of bus in 2014 and since then the fleet’s emissions have reduced significantly.
The website says the city plans to buy 153 more natural gas buses this year to replace diesel buses.
With files from Karen Bartko, Global News
I wonder how fast the car and bus were going that they ricocheted and hit so many other vehicles.
Looks like a scene from La Brea
A medical emergency will render a person incapacitated causing them to lose control of the vehicle they are driving.
But why did the CNG bus catch fire?