Vancouver Island logging road known for its ‘safety issues’
2 UVic students dead after bus overturns
The bus carrying 45 University of Victoria biology students and two teaching assistants was about halfway along an 85-kilometre gravel logging road on Vancouver Island around 9 p.m. on Friday night when it went off the roadway and rolled down into a ravine, coming to rest on its side, on a slope, held up by a barrier of trees.
Two students died at the scene, in a remote forested wilderness on the rough road to Bamfield on the island’s west coast, at the northern end of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.
Far from cellular coverage, the rest endured an agonizing two hours before help arrived, tending to the injured and saving themselves and each other. Some pulled themselves up to the road with a rope. Others were trapped inside and had to be freed by firefighters.
Three students were seriously injured and airlifted to hospital in Victoria. They were taken via the Port Alberni airport after rescue helicopters were unable to land at the crash site.
In all, 17 people were taken to hospital, including the driver. The rest were taken by school bus to a reception station set up in a community centre in Port Alberni.
The group was heading for a weekend trip collecting samples and performing lab work at the Bamfield Marine Science Centre, a large research station run by several Canadian universities.
Global News reported the 911 call came from a satellite phone registered to the University of Victoria.
Const. Doug Pennington with Central Vancouver Island Traffic Services told Global News the bus was southbound and went off the right side of the road, coming to a rest about 20 metres down.
Chief Councillor Robert Dennis, with the Huu-ay-aht First Nation, told CBC he was among the first to arrive on scene, about half an hour after it happened, and saw the bus overturned, held in place from falling further by a line of trees. He said students were pulling themselves up to the roadway with a rope.
“There were some people laying on the ground, laying on what appeared to be blankets and were being looked after by the rest of the students,” he said. “They were definitely panicked.”
“We live in a remote part of Vancouver Island, connected to larger communities by a logging road. We have known for a long time of the safety issues related to this road,” Dennis said in a statement. “Knowing we have such a strong team ready to respond when needed means a lot to our community, and we want to make sure they know how much we appreciate their sacrifices.”
Firefighters arrived to find people still trapped inside the bus, according to the CBC report.
The bus was operated by Wilson’s, a large charter company. It said in a statement that its driver had been released from hospital.
“Our immediate concern is with the passengers, the driver and their families,” the company said. “Management and ownership is working with authorities and the University of Victoria to address those immediate concerns.”
Wilson’s said the driver was experienced and had proper certification, and that the bus, a 2001 Prevost XL 2,
SOME (WERE) LAYING ON THE GROUND. THEY WERE DEFINITELY PANICKED.
was inspected and certified. It was equipped with seatbelts
The University of Victoria said it was offering counselling services.
“We are deeply saddened by the death of two University of Victoria students last night,” said school president Jamie Cassels. “Our heartfelt thoughts go out to the students’ families and loved ones, to whom we offer our sincerest condolences. We are also thinking of those injured in the crash.”
Federal party leaders and John Horgan, premier of British Columbia, expressed their sympathy on social media.
The road was the site of another harrowing experience for a group of 10 Grade 12 students in September 2010.
They were stuck in place by a collapsed culvert, without adequate supplies and no cellphone coverage. They were saved after the driver cycled 40 kilometres to meet up with a logging crew. National Post with files from
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