Norwich Township bus collision leads to minor injuries

Emergency crews and parents raced to the scene of a ditched school bus in Norwich Township last week. Four students were taken to hospital by ambulance with minor injuries. (Contributed Photo)

Lee Griffi, Editor

No serious injuries were reported after a school bus carrying 40 elementary school students left a rural roadway and crashed into a ditch last week. The bus was on the way to East Oxford Elementary.

Provincial Police, along with members of Oxford County Fire and Paramedic Services, were called to the single-vehicle collision just before 9 a.m. on Feb. 18 on Old Stage Road in Norwich Township.

Four children were taken to hospital by ambulance, and the driver was not injured. No charges have been laid and the investigation is continuing.

Norwich Township resident Meagan Landry’s son was on the bus and questioned why it was on the road at all.

“What most concerns me is that buses were cancelled the day before because of fog, and they ran the bus with an impending ice storm. I guess the Catholic School board didn’t run theirs.”

The London District Catholic School Board reported that school buses were cancelled in Oxford County due to hazardous winter road conditions, but schools remained open. Buses were running in the City of London, but in Oxford, Middlesex, Elgin counties and the Red Zone, buses were cancelled that day.

Landry said she would like to see more communication from those on the ground, a move which would lead to better decision-making.

“My husband made a point. People are living on Old Stage Road, one of two main routes to that school. Why isn’t someone specifically checking that road on those days? Maybe have a tip line for parents who live on that road to say they just left for work at 6 a.m. and it's bad.”

The Echo was referred by Langs Bus Lines to Southwestern Ontario Student Transportation Services (STS), the non-profit body responsible for student transportation for both the London District Catholic School Board and the Thames Valley District School Board.

The Echo contacted STS three times, requesting an interview or a written statement. They did not reply. A video produced by STS did explain the process for school bus cancellations.

“The decision to cancel or delay is a process that involves many factors and many people. Transportation professionals rely on Environment Canada reports and monitor various radar systems to watch out for potential storm activity.”

The video said when a storm is brewing, the company turns to local spotters across the area who report weather and road conditions.

“It is important to remember that the condition of bus routes can vary across our large district

The broader Environment Canada forecast for Oxford County included a risk of freezing drizzle in the morning, with cloudy conditions ahead of heavier wintry precipitation and wind. Reports at the time from the OPP noted that southwestern Ontario, including Oxford, was under a freezing rain warning for the day, and icy roads were a significant concern.

Landry said her son texted her just after 9 a.m. to say the bus was fishtailing and he was worried about an accident occurring. She added the ice was like a skating rink.

“He said it fishtailed a few times, and he kept thinking this is it, and around the next bend they went in. He said when the firefighters arrived, one of them fell to his knees because it was icy. When I drove to the scene, parents were passing me, probably out of panic, and a mother in an SUV wound up in the ditch.”

She added when she was able to pick up her son at the scene, two mothers fell on the ice. Landry also said the same bus wound up in the ditch a few weeks earlier on an area back road before the kids were on it.

“All I got from the Big Yellow Bus is there was a 45-minute delay and I asked my son when he got home what the problem was. He said the driver told the kids she ditched it and I saw it. It’s a known fact the roads around here are very slippery, but they still took a chance a few weeks later on an impending ice storm day.”

Landry said she does not blame the bus driver and is very proud of her 13-year-old son.

“He is upset and was very scared. He called me four times telling me to go slow on the way to the scene. He has some bruised ribs and a bump on his elbow.”

The Thames Valley District School Board would not make someone available for an interview but did provide a statement.

“The bus was transporting East Oxford Central Public School students. Families of all students who were on board have been contacted directly. A replacement bus was sent by Southwestern Ontario Student Transportation Services. We appreciate the quick response of the bus operator and emergency services, and we will continue to follow up with the school community as needed.”

It added bus cancellation decisions are made by Southwestern Ontario Student Transportation Services, not the Thames Valley District School Board.

“The investigation is being led by the OPP in cooperation with the bus company.”

Many people have told stories of how brave the students on the bus were, including Constable Randi Crawford with the Oxford OPP.

“The kids were so brave. They worked together to get each other off the bus. As you said, one person’s son helped open the emergency door. They did everything they were supposed to in a very stressful situation and we are so grateful there weren’t worse injuries.”

Crawford said physical injuries are one thing, but mental injuries also need to be taken into consideration.

“This was a very scary situation for not only the kids but the parents and it is something they are going to have to work through for the next little while.”

She added the investigation has not been completed but she expected road conditions to play a role.

“From what I understand, it is quite likely it is going to be ruled a weather-related incident because of the condition of the icy roads. It is certainly going to be a contributing factor.”

The TVDSB informed parents that the board’s Traumatic Events Response Team (TERT) would attend the school on Friday, two days following the collision.

“We recognize that experiences like this can be emotionally unsettling, and so we thought it appropriate to have TERT members made available to speak with students and offer assistance as requested,” according to an email from Principal Sarah Wright.