OPP say 24 hospitalized after eastern Ontario bus crash

PRESCOTT, ONT. — At least 24 people are in hospital, four with life-threatening injuries, after a bus crash in eastern Ontario, provincial police said Monday.

OPP Const. Suzanne Runciman said the bus was carrying about 37 people, including the driver and a tour guide, when it went off the westbound lanes of Highway 401 and hit a rock cut.

Runciman said the crash took place between Brockville, Ont., and Prescott, Ont.

“My understanding is they are tourists, there was a tour guide with them,” Runciman said of those on board.

A manager at Massachusettsbased Union Tour Express said he had heard that one of its buses was involved in the accident, but did not have any information.

A truck driver who passed by shortly after the crash said he saw passengers outside the bus holding bloody noses and some appeared to have facial injuries.

The bus was sitting in the ditch, up against some rocks, he said. A dash-cam photo of the scene that he shared shows at least three ambulances and first responders.

“It definitely looked very surreal and chaotic,” said the driver, who would only give his name as Robert. “You could definitely see heavy damage to the front of the bus, including the passenger side of the front window.”

The Ornge air ambulance service said it was responding to the scene, situated about 95 kilometres south of Ottawa. Spokesperson Joshua McNamara said at least one person was taken to Ottawa via air ambulance.

The Brockville General Hospital said it had received five patients who all required critical care. Spokesperson Abby McIntyre said one patient had to be sent to a hospital in Kingston, Ont., by air ambulance.