What we know:
The Ontario Provincial Police said Monday emergency services are on scene at the crash site, just west of Prescott, near Edward Street. They were notified of the collision at 3:24 p.m.
One ORNGE air ambulance has already reached the scene and left with an injured passenger bound for Ottawa, said ORNGE spokesman Joshua McNamara.
Another air ambulance is en route from Toronto, he said, along with an ORNGE plane and a ground ambulance.
McNamara said initial reports indicated that 30-40 were on board the passenger bus, but he could not confirm how many of those passengers were seriously injured.
Leeds and Grenville paramedics said multiple patients were without vital signs. Some were taken to the Brockville General hospital with serious injuries. The hospital has declared a “code orange,” which can mean a possible mass casualty incident.
The Brockville hospital said it received five patients who were in critical condition. All five are Mandarin speaking. Another patient has been airlifted to Kingston.
The Kingston General Hospital said some trauma patients are being directed between Ottawa and Kingston. A spokeswoman from the hospital said it was unclear how many patients had been directed to Kingston.
Ray St. Aubin, from Burlington, was driving eastbound past the crash scene at around 3:45 p.m. He said about 20 firefighters were working in front of the vehicle.
“The whole front end of the bus was completely gone,” he said.
“A really, really bad scene. I’ve never seen a crash like that in my life.”
The Ministry of Transportation tweeted that vehicles should detour south to County Road 2, westbound to Maitland Road and north to Highway 401.
The school transportation authority for Eastern Ontario has been asked to supply a school bus to help transport passengers from the scene.
The Ottawa Hospital said it is working with regional hospitals and ORNGE to treat those who are seriously injured.
The stretch of highway between Cornwall and Kingston has been the scene of some major collisions in recent years, and local mayors have asked the province to widen the highway in an attempt to address the issue.
George, the owner of Brockville Tractor Trailer Maintenance who did not want to give his last name, said “there’s been a pile of accidents over the last month or so” on the 401 in the area.
“It’s heavy construction out there right now, and folks just aren’t paying attention.”
Last month, Prescott Mayor Brett Todd said the stretch of highway that runs through the city is prone to collisions. Just last month, a driver was killed when two transport trucks and a tanker collided on Highway 401, near Prescott, forcing the closure of the road in both directions.
“We’ve clearly got a significant issue with the 401 in parts of Eastern Ontario,” he said last month.
In March 2017, a massive pileup on the highway killed one driver and sent 29 to hospital because of the effects of a toxic spill near Mallorytown.
Todd has been pushing for the highway to be widened to three lanes in each direction. Others have called for speed reductions.
More to come.
— With files from Taylor Blewett
- Multiple people have been injured after a passenger bus carrying 30 to 40 crashed into a ditch on Highway 401 near Prescott on Monday afternoon
- Regional paramedics, fire, police, and ORNGE helicopters are all at the scene. Nearby hospitals are also accepting patients from the collision
- The Brockville hospital said it received five patients who were in critical condition. All five are Mandarin speaking
- A witness described the entire front of the bus being sheared off, and said “I’ve never seen a crash like that in my life”
- Vehicles should detour south to County Road 2, westbound to Maitland Road and north to Highway 401
- The stretch of highway between Cornwall and Kingston has been the scene of some major collisions in recent years
The Ontario Provincial Police said Monday emergency services are on scene at the crash site, just west of Prescott, near Edward Street. They were notified of the collision at 3:24 p.m.
One ORNGE air ambulance has already reached the scene and left with an injured passenger bound for Ottawa, said ORNGE spokesman Joshua McNamara.
Another air ambulance is en route from Toronto, he said, along with an ORNGE plane and a ground ambulance.
McNamara said initial reports indicated that 30-40 were on board the passenger bus, but he could not confirm how many of those passengers were seriously injured.
Leeds and Grenville paramedics said multiple patients were without vital signs. Some were taken to the Brockville General hospital with serious injuries. The hospital has declared a “code orange,” which can mean a possible mass casualty incident.
The Brockville hospital said it received five patients who were in critical condition. All five are Mandarin speaking. Another patient has been airlifted to Kingston.
The Kingston General Hospital said some trauma patients are being directed between Ottawa and Kingston. A spokeswoman from the hospital said it was unclear how many patients had been directed to Kingston.
Ray St. Aubin, from Burlington, was driving eastbound past the crash scene at around 3:45 p.m. He said about 20 firefighters were working in front of the vehicle.
“The whole front end of the bus was completely gone,” he said.
“A really, really bad scene. I’ve never seen a crash like that in my life.”
The Ministry of Transportation tweeted that vehicles should detour south to County Road 2, westbound to Maitland Road and north to Highway 401.
The school transportation authority for Eastern Ontario has been asked to supply a school bus to help transport passengers from the scene.
The Ottawa Hospital said it is working with regional hospitals and ORNGE to treat those who are seriously injured.
The stretch of highway between Cornwall and Kingston has been the scene of some major collisions in recent years, and local mayors have asked the province to widen the highway in an attempt to address the issue.
George, the owner of Brockville Tractor Trailer Maintenance who did not want to give his last name, said “there’s been a pile of accidents over the last month or so” on the 401 in the area.
“It’s heavy construction out there right now, and folks just aren’t paying attention.”
Last month, Prescott Mayor Brett Todd said the stretch of highway that runs through the city is prone to collisions. Just last month, a driver was killed when two transport trucks and a tanker collided on Highway 401, near Prescott, forcing the closure of the road in both directions.
“We’ve clearly got a significant issue with the 401 in parts of Eastern Ontario,” he said last month.
In March 2017, a massive pileup on the highway killed one driver and sent 29 to hospital because of the effects of a toxic spill near Mallorytown.
Todd has been pushing for the highway to be widened to three lanes in each direction. Others have called for speed reductions.
More to come.
— With files from Taylor Blewett
