Advertisement

2 school buses collide, catch fire on Autoroute 640

Click to play video: 'Highway 640 bus crash sends 69 children and adults to hospital'
Highway 640 bus crash sends 69 children and adults to hospital
WATCH: At least 69 people were treated for minor injuries after a pair of school buses carrying children and monitors from a Brossard day camp collided on Highway 640 near St-Eustache. Global's Anne Leclair reports – Jul 23, 2019

Quebec provincial police are investigating after two school buses collided, catching on fire, on Autoroute 640 near Saint-Eustache, west of Montreal.

The incident happened at 10 a.m. Tuesday. According to Quebec 511, all the children on board, aged between five and 12 years old, were safely evacuated from the buses.

WATCH: Quebec provincial police are investigating after two school buses collided and caught on fire on Autoroute 640.

Click to play video: '2 Brossard school buses collide, catch fire'
2 Brossard school buses collide, catch fire

READ MORE: Video from Quebec school bus shows cars zooming by, even as lights flash

“There were approximately 50 kids on board,” Sûreté du Québec (SQ) spokesperson Claude Denis told Global News.

Story continues below advertisement

Sixty-nine people, mostly children and day camp monitors, were transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

WATCH BELOW: A passerby takes a video of two school buses on fire after they collided on Autoroute 640. Credit: Michel Thibodeau/Facebook

Click to play video: '2 school buses collide, catch fire near Saint-Eustache'
2 school buses collide, catch fire near Saint-Eustache

According to Myriam Sabourin, with the CISSS des Laurentides, the children are being evaluated; they were given food and drink and are recovering in an air-conditioned room.

The accident occurred after a car slowed down on the highway, said Denis.

READ MORE: Quebec education minister approves school bus drivers’ choice of radio

“The second vehicle, a school bus, did not stop in time and hit it,” he explained.

“The third vehicle, a school bus, hit the second bus. Both buses were involved in the fire.”

Story continues below advertisement

Brossard officials say they have already contacted parents. Drivers in the area are being detoured via 25 Avenue.

Quebec provincial police are investigating after two school buses collided on Autoroute 640. Sylvain Trudeau/Global News

Sponsored content

AdChoices