MONTREAL – An 18-year-old woman is dead and dozens are injured following a crash involving a school bus filled with students near Mont-St-Hilaire, Que., on Friday.
The victim, from Beloeil, was one of two passengers in the car that collided with the bus. The other, a 19-year-old man, remains in critical condition in hospital.
The bus was carrying students between the ages of 12 and 17 and was struck after leaving College Mont-St-Hilaire at around 4:45 p.m. at the intersection of Aut-116 and Authier St.
A total of 19 people were taken to hospital by bus to be treated for minor injuries such as bruising and shock while eight were transported by ambulance, including the two occupants of the car.
The impact of the collision left the bus on its side, and the front end of the car demolished.
It’s unclear what led to the collision although Capt. Yanic Parent with the Régie intermunicipale Richelieu Saint-Laurent said speeding was likely a factor.
The speed limit on that stretch of highway is 70 kilometres per hour.
Mont-St-Hilaire is about 35 kilometres east of Montreal.
Highway 116 was closed in both directions as Quebec Provincial Police along with local police investigated.
*With files from The Canadian Press