Bus driver’s seizures went unreported, inquiry hears

Alberta Transportation never told of condition that led to fatal crash

ST. PAU L A fatality inquiry has been told that the medical condition of a driver who crashed his minivan into a school, killing a child, was never reported to Alberta Transportation.

Sheila Duiker told the inquiry on Thursday that a department review did not find any mention of Richard Benson’s seizures.

Benson had one of those seizures and crashed into a Grade 6 class at Racette Junior High School in St. Paul, in October 2012.

It is not mandatory in Alberta for doctors to report medical conditions that might make driving unsafe.

An Alberta Medical Association spokesman testified that it’s rare for doctors to get questioned.

But Dr. Lyle Mittelstat said most physicians “are aware and have their own copies of the (Canadian Medical Association’s) guide.”

The association guide says anyone on medication and seizurefree for six months can drive, said Mittelstat.

Benson pleaded guilty to criminal negligence causing death and criminal negligence causing bodily harm.

He was sentenced to just under a year in jail.

Court was told he shouldn’t have been driving because he’d been having seizures for about a decade but rarely took his prescribed medication to prevent the attacks.

He also lied on driver’s licence applications when he said he had no medical condition that would affect his ability to control a vehicle.

Mittelstat said if mandatory reporting were to be brought in for Alberta doctors, the medical asso- ciation would want to see support for delicensed drivers and a way to rapidly review a decision.

He also voiced concerns about liability for doctors and the financial burden for drivers, since the only insured driver’s medical is for people who are over the age of 75.

“It is such an integral part of our culture, the ability to drive, and when you lose the ability ... it really puts a strain on physicians” he said.

Benson’s minivan pinned three young girls when it crashed through a large window and brick wall.

Megan Wolitski, 11, died in hospital the next day.

Angelina Luce received a brain injury and had to learn to walk and feed herself again, but eventually returned to school.

Maddie Guitard spent four years in a vegetative state before she died earlier this month at the age of 15.

Alberta Justice has said this inquiry is looking into how driver’s licences are issued to people with

It is such an integral part of our culture, the ability to drive, and when you lose the ability ... it really puts a strain on physicians.

medical conditions in order to determine if similar deaths might be preventable.