Calgary Bus Crash Kills Three, Injures at Least 10

Two Calgary Transit buses and several other vehicles collided in a chain-reaction crash near Saddle Ridge Circle in northeast Calgary shortly after 1 p.m. on Oct. 15, killing three people. One bus caught fire. Firefighters extricated a trapped bus driver who suffered serious injuries, Fire Chief Steve Dongworth said. Staff Sgt. Andy Woodward said a bus on Saddle Ridge Circle hit a white vehicle that then hit a black vehicle and a van-type truck; that bus continued and struck a second bus stopped at a bus stop, igniting a fire; the second bus crossed the roadway and hit additional vehicles. Woodward, a 36-year officer, said it was probably the biggest and most complex collision scene he had worked. Seven fire vehicles and a hazmat unit responded because the second bus ran on natural gas, believed to have fueled the fire. A police officer was also injured and sent to hospital. Injury totals are contested: coverage agrees at least 10 were hurt and 10 went to hospital by ambulance; Associated Press reported 19 injured; other reports cited 16 injured with one in critical condition; a wire summary noted life-altering injuries for one person. The cause remains under investigation. Premier Danielle Smith said her sincere thoughts are with the families of those who died and everyone injured. Mayor Jeromy Farkas said there will be a full investigation.