A motorcoach and an SUV collided in a fatal accident north of Boyle last Wednesday.
The 31 passengers and driver aboard the bus were bound for Fort McMurray, but at 7:07 p.m., Boyle RCMP received a call of a southbound SUV colliding with the bus on Highway 63 approximately 20 km north of Boyle. The adult male driver of the SUV was pronounced dead on scene.
Boyle and Grassland Fire Departments and Boyle EMS and Alberta Sheriffs from Boyle all responded within minutes. The damage the responders found was devastating; Boyle RCMP Sgt. Kevin McGillivray said they were confronted with ìextensive damage to both vehiclesî after it appeared they had collided in a partial-head on impact in which both driversí front-left corners took the brunt of the impact, hurling both vehicles into the ditch just north of Donatville.
Police found the driver of the SUV deceased when they arrived on scene a few minutes later. Five people on the bus including the driver were transported to Boyle and Athabasca hospitals and treated for minor injuries, and were released that night, according to John Stepovy, general manager of Red Arrow Motorcoach.
Alcohol has not been ruled out as a causal factor of the collision, according to Boyle RCMP Sgt. Kevin McGillivray in a media statement.
ìThe investigation is pending the results of the Collision Analyst and Medical Examiner reports,î states the release.
Highway 63 was blocked off for a number of hours at the Highway 55 turnoff as traffic was detoured via the Al-Pac connector to Township Road 674, while investigators combed through and cleaned up the accident scene.
Traffic moving in both directions was fully restored by the following morning, according to police.
Stepovy said the bus operator involved was ìan experienced driverî and had been working with the company for a number of years. He said the driver had ìbeen up and down that highway many times, [and] has got lots of miles and hours under his belt.
ìOur drivers are all well trained to deal with incidents, so I think he is fairly calm Ö he handled it the best he could,î said Stepovy.
By 11:30 p.m., the remaining passengers and their luggage were transferred to another Red Arrow coach, which was passing by in the area, according to McGillivray, before pressing on to Fort McMurray.
Red Arrow assured on their website that its Fort McMurray ticket office ìwill be open for their arrivalî and that transportation would be provided to those on their way out to work camps near Fort McMurray.
Passengers reportedly arrived at their destination in Fort McMurray at 2:30 a.m. local time.
ìOur thoughts and prayers are with the family of the SUV driver. Itís a tragic circumstance,î said Stepovy. ìItís unfortunate, and itís difficult; I think weíre just fortunate that there werenít more severe injuries.î
