School bus crash leaves 3 badly hurt

Highway collision near Smoky Lake involved crane

EDMONTON One student has been flown to Edmonton by STARS air ambulance in critical, life-threatening condition after an early-morning two-vehicle crash involving a school bus and a crane along Highway 28 near Smoky Lake Monday.

RCMP confirmed the crash happened around 8:30 a.m. along the highway at Range Road 180.

Police said the bus was northbound on Range Road 180 and the crane was westbound on Highway 28 when the collision occurred.

Aspen View Public Schools confirmed the school bus was transporting 14 students to H.A. Kostash, a K-12 school.

A boy was airlifted to Edmonton by STARS in critical, life- threatening condition to the Stollery Children’s Hospital, Alberta Health Services said Monday.

A second teenage girl was also taken to the Stollery Children’s Hospital, STARS said.

The remaining 12 students and the bus driver were bused to the health centre in Smoky Lake.

However, one of those students, a boy, required STARS to fly back into the community to transport him to the Stollery.

All three patients are in critical condition, STARS confirmed.

It is not yet known the extent of other injuries, though police in a Monday news release mentioned they were being assessed for “various injuries.”

All families have been notified. The driver of the crane was taken to hospital with minor injuries, police said, and a passenger was not injured.

Traffic in the area was being rerouted and motorists were asked to avoid the area or expect delays.

STARS also confirmed an air ambulance had been dispatched from their Edmonton base.