(Castlegar) The young woman visiting from Quebec, who was on life support after a delivery van collided with a transit bus in southeastern British Columbia, sadly succumbed to her wounds.
Updated yesterday at 11:25 p.m.
A statement from Castlegar RCMP says the crash happened Thursday when the 19-year-old and 15 other Quebec students attending a program at nearby Selkirk College were on the bus.
On Monday, Selkirk College released a statement which said the student who was seriously injured in the crash sadly passed away.
All other students and staff involved in the crash were taken to Kootenay Lake Hospital for evaluation and were released the same day, according to the Selkirk College statement.
On Twitter, Prime Minister François Legault indicated that “a young Quebecer lost her life in a bus accident in British Columbia during a student trip”. He offered his condolences to the family and loved ones of the victim.
Police say the bus was struck in the side by an oncoming Purolator van, injuring the student, who was sitting at the window where the impact occurred. The young woman’s classmates administered first aid.
RCMP victim assistance workers and counselors from Selkirk College are working to support the other Quebec class members. Trauma support has been provided to everyone involved in the tragic accident.
Investigators are trying to determine why the van swerved towards the bus and are hoping to gain access to dashcam video of one of the vehicles that was directly in front of the bus before the crash on Highway 3A around 16 30 p.m., June 30.
Note to readers: in a previous version, it is written that the young woman is 18 years old. It should have read that she is 19 years old. Our apologies.