WESTLOCK - A tractor-trailer B-train unit rear-ended a Pembina Hills area school bus on Highway 44 12 km north of Westlock last Wednesday (June 25).
The school bus was turning left onto Township Road 604 during the afternoon run at approximately 3:50 p.m. when a semi-truck hit their rear bumper. The impact caused the tractor-trailer to land in the ditch.
Stuart Koflick, Fire Chief for the Town of Westlock, says that there were no injuries to the occupants of the bus. However, the driver of the tractor-trailer unit needed to be removed from the vehicle. He was packaged by EMS and transported to an Edmonton hospital where he is currently being treated for injuries to his lower back and extremities.
The school bus faced only minor damage to the rear. The fire departments worked to remove metal pieces that were impacting one of the rear tires. Pembina Hills Transportation Staff had another bus dispatched to finish the route and ensure the kid's safety while another staff member drove the bus back to the barns.
The tractor-trailer received a substantial amount of damage to both the front and driver side of the vehicle.
Koflick described the awareness that the emergency first responders had upon arrival, “When a call comes in involving a school bus, especially at the time that children are being transferred, it gives everybody a heightened sense of alertness.”
An accident involving larger vehicles may mean mass casualty and injuries to be dealt with but in this case, Koflick and crews were very fortunate that none of the children were injured at the time.
The Town of Westlock had two fire units on the scene and two units from the Village of Clyde station. RCMP, County Municipal Enforcement and two ambulances from Alberta Health Services assisted on the scene.
Koflick is grateful for the assistance of the other crews and their quick work to ensure everyone was safely removed from the scene, “I have to say that all emergency crews, including police, fire, EMS, worked very well together as we normally do and very efficient together. And it was a very quick extraction of the casualty from the vehicle and that’s due to the regional cooperation that we do enjoy here in the area.”
