Close X
Friday, November 29, 2024
ADVT 
National

No cause on bus crash that killed three on glacier

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 20 Jul, 2020 05:33 PM
  • No cause on bus crash that killed three on glacier

The president of the company that runs the bus tours at the Columbia Icefield between Banff and Jasper said changes will be made, if necessary, after a rollover on the glacier killed three people and sent two dozen to hospital.

The cause of the accident hasn't been determined. The off-road bus rolled off the road to the glacier Saturday afternoon and came to rest on a rocky slope, its six huge tires pointed up at the sky.

The RCMP, Occupational Health and Safety and the Transportation Safety Board spent Sunday milling about the vehicle, which slid about 50 metres down a steep embankment coming to rest near the glacier.

It's unclear how soon it will be removed from its current location but an internal investigation is underway as well.

"We started right away to review what happened, what is our process with our protocol at every step and so we're doing that internally but we are also working with the external teams to ensure that gets a fulsome review," said Dave McKenna, the president of the Banff Jasper Collection by Pursuit, which operates the tours and its fleet of 22 vehicles.

The RCMP said the cause of the accident still isn't known and the snow coach, called an Ice Explorer, will receive a full mechanical inspection.

The red and white big-wheeled buses regularly take tourists up a rough rocky road onto the Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park.

In all, 27 people were aboard when it crashed.

Alberta Heath Services said, of the 24 survivors, 14 had life-threatening head or pelvis injuries. Five others were in serious condition with broken bones and the remaining five suffered minor injuries.

McKenna said the Ice Explorers are offroad vehicles and seatbelts are not required. They aren't allowed on highways and have a top speed of 40 kilometres an hour.

He said once the investigation is complete, Pursuit will implement any changes that might be part of recommendations for things like seatbelts.

"We will wait until the investigation is over and we will listen to all the recommendations and anything we're required to do."

Tours have been offered on the glacier since 1969 and the current type of Ice Explorers have been used since the early 1980s but are constantly upgraded.

"We average about 480,000 visitors a year and we've been operating these vehicles since the early 80s. We've had over 16 million passengers safely taken out on to the ice over all these years. No major incidents," McKenna said.

"Over 39 years of course there's a few bumps but nothing serious with fatalities or critical injuries."

Angela Bye was on one of the coaches just before Saturday's accident. She said she never worried about her safety.

"We were in the exact same vehicle, hours before. It's like being in a school bus with really tall seats. The seats are way more padded than a school bus. They explained how it ran. How the wheels work," she said.

"I felt very safe."

MORE National ARTICLES

Vancouver Police safely disposes explosive device

Vancouver Police safely disposes explosive device
Vancouver Police safely detonated an improvised explosive device near Burrard and Pender streets today. Officers responded to a 9-1-1 call of a crime in progress at about 9 a.m. Two men were observed by a member of the public, allegedly breaking into a vehicle near Thurlow and Bute streets.

Vancouver Police safely disposes explosive device

One person was alive at home where three bodies found in Langley, B.C.: police

One person was alive at home where three bodies found in Langley, B.C.: police
Homicide investigators say a male was found alive at a house fire in Langley, B.C., where three bodies were discovered on the weekend. Police have said at least one death has been ruled a homicide and Sgt. Frank Jang now says the case could be a triple homicide investigation, although that will be clearer in the coming days.

One person was alive at home where three bodies found in Langley, B.C.: police

Asthma/Arthritis Drug to Cure Covid-19 ? Dexamethasone May Hold the Key To Defeat the #Pandemic

Asthma/Arthritis Drug to Cure Covid-19 ? Dexamethasone May Hold the Key To Defeat the #Pandemic
A COVID-19 cure was right in front of our eyes all this time? UK researchers say we could have saved over 5000 lives in UK had we administered Dexamethasone from the beginning. UK research shows Dexamethasone drug saves lives. The drug is given intravenously in intensive care and in tablet form for less seriously ill patients. CAUTION: Doctors advise people not go out and buy it to take at home without consultation.

Asthma/Arthritis Drug to Cure Covid-19 ? Dexamethasone May Hold the Key To Defeat the #Pandemic

B.C. to cut retail liquor mark-up to help hospitality sector's COVID-19 recovery

B.C. to cut retail liquor mark-up to help hospitality sector's COVID-19 recovery
British Columbia is planning to expand measures to support restaurants, bars and tourism operations hard hit by COVID-19 restrictions.

B.C. to cut retail liquor mark-up to help hospitality sector's COVID-19 recovery

B.C. report says condo insurance market 'unhealthy,' premiums up 40 per cent

B.C. report says condo insurance market 'unhealthy,' premiums up 40 per cent
A report commissioned by the B.C. government says insurance premiums for condominium buildings have increased by as much as 40 per cent year over year while deductible costs have tripled.

B.C. report says condo insurance market 'unhealthy,' premiums up 40 per cent

Families of Flight 752 victims demand plan, timeline for holding Iran to account

Families of Flight 752 victims demand plan, timeline for holding Iran to account
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promised to keep fighting for answers into Iran's shooting down of a civilian airliner in January even as victims' families prepare to grill Canada's foreign minister over plans to hold the Islamic Republic to account.

Families of Flight 752 victims demand plan, timeline for holding Iran to account