Watch the video above: Glen Pilon of the Transportation Safety Board discusses the ongoing investigation and says that Via Rail crossings like the one at today’s collision are a watch-list concern for TSB
At least six people are dead after an OC Transpo bus collided with a Via Rail train in Ottawa’s west end Wednesday morning.
Officials confirmed that five people died on scene and 31 patients were transported to hospital, 11 of whom were in critical condition.
One of the patients taken to the hospital has died.
Watch the video below: Ottawa officials confirmed 6 people are dead following a morning collision between a Via train and OC Transpo bus
An investigator with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada has confirmed that the driver of the bus is among the deceased.
LIVE COVERAGE: Global News reporters provide updates from the scene
According to officials, the routes involved were OC Transpo bus #76 and Via Train 51 bound for Toronto.
Watch the video below: David Jeanes of Transport Action Canada, a transportation advocacy group, discusses the collision
The crash happened just east of Fallowfield train station near Woodroffe Ave., in the Ottawa suburb of Barrhaven at 8:48 am EDT.
An audio clip uploaded to SoundCloud captures 9-1-1 calls about the accident. You can listen below:
Both levels of the front end of the bus, extending back to the driver’s seat, were ripped off by the impact.
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Raw video shows the extensive damage to the OC Transpo bus following its collision with a Via train
Witness accounts
Witnesses said the bus appeared to ignore warning signals at the crossing.
“People started screaming, ‘Stop, stop!’ because they could see the train coming down the track,” said student Tanner Trepaniere, who was in the upper level of the new, double-decker bus.
Watch the video below: Witnesses recount the devastating accident — WARNING: Graphic images — viewer discretion
Politicians expressed their condolences
Watch the video below: Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson signs a book of condolences
*With files from the Canadian Press
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