A two-vehicle crash on Route 400 involving a school bus and transport truck is under investigation by members of the Russell Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Detachment.
The collision occurred on April 22 shortly before 4:15 p.m. on Route 400 at the intersection of MacDonald Road. Preliminary investigation indicates that a school bus attempted to enter the highway and collided with an eastbound transport truck, according to the OPP.
Along with the driver, 12 students were on board the school bus at the time. All occupants on the bus were taken to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) by paramedics with non-life-threatening injuries. The bus and transport truck drivers were not injured.
Officers were assisted by the Russell and Embrun Fire Departments, and Ottawa and Prescott-Russell Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
“All families have been reunited,” said Sergeant Shaun Cameron, the Media Relations Officer for the Russell County OPP Department. “The Russell County OPP Detachment, with assistance from the OPP Traffic Incident Management Team, is continuing its investigation.”
As a result of the collision, a section of Route 400 was closed until 3 a.m. on Tuesday April 23 from South Russell Road to Leclerc Road, MacDonald Road from Route 300 to Route 400, and Leclerc Road from Route 500 to Route 400.
A code orange (which is called to bring together resources to respond to a potential disaster or mass casualty incident) was called shortly before 5 p.m. The hospital redirected resources to their Emergency Department to prepare for the arrival of young patients.
“Currently, we cannot comment on the individual injuries to the children/youth, but we can confirm that we have engaged all resources available to us and we have also alerted our colleagues at other local hospitals,” the statement read.
An hour later, they released another statement stating the Code Orange was discontinued.
A last update on Wednesday, April 24, states that five children were seen in the CHEO Emergency Department and released, and one child was admitted with injuries.
