(Quebec) The Sûreté du Québec confirmed the death of two people in the major collision involving a passenger bus and a car that injured at least twenty people on Tuesday evening on Route 132, near Saint-Fabien in the Bas-Saint-Laurent.
For some unexplained reason, the bus, which was traveling westbound, and a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction collided around 5:15 p.m. The two vehicles ended up in the ditch.
The occupant of the vehicle suffered serious injuries and his death was reported in the middle of the evening, said Sergeant Claude Doiron, spokesperson for the Sûreté du Québec.
The bus was carrying about 40 passengers, half of whom suffered injuries ranging from minor to serious. One of the passengers also lost his life, according to agent Doiron. No details that could identify the victims have been released at this time to give authorities time to contact next of kin.
The bus involved belongs to Orléans Express. “Our first thoughts are with everyone involved in the accident. For now, the cause of the accident remains to be clarified and confirmed by the authorities. Orléans Express is working with them to shed light on the exact circumstances,” wrote company spokesperson Émilie Charest.
Due to the ongoing investigation, the company will not comment further.
The victims with serious injuries were taken by ambulance to the Rimouski hospital. About twenty others, whose condition is more stable, should also be transported to the health establishment. The other bus passengers are taken to the Saint-Fabien arena where they will be assessed by medical personnel.
“We have triggered a Code Orange, which means the massive arrival of injured people,” confirmed to The Press the spokesperson for the CISSS du Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gilles Turmel.
Staff were urgently recalled and medical specialists were mobilized to be ready to receive the flood of patients.
At the end of the evening, the CISSS indicated that 15 injured were taken to the emergency room by ambulance. The other passengers who had been directed to the Saint-Fabien arena were finally repatriated to the Rimouski hospital as well. “Everything went well, it must also be underlined,” said Mr. Turmel.
Route 132 has been closed in both directions. A bypass in the municipality of Saint-Fabien has been set up for vehicles only.