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School bus crashes near Shawnigan Lake

Both drivers were injured, and 12 students on the school bus were unharmed
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A rowing scull went through the front window of a school bus in Shawnigan Lake Friday morning. (Twitter/CowValleyBiker)

A school bus carrying 12 young students to school Friday morning in the Shawnigan Lake area struck a truck hauling a trailer of rowing sculls on icy road conditions.

The bus driver and driver of the truck, which was carrying members of the Canadian men’s Olympic rowing team, were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. There were no other injuries reported in the incident.

Const. Ian Wetzel-Eden, from the Shawnigan Lake RCMP detachment, said the bus was travelling east on Renfrew Road, near Decca Road, hit black and ice, lost control and went into oncoming westbound traffic.

Wetzel-Eden said the bus hit the truck and trailer where they were connected, and at least one rowing scull went through the front window of the bus and struck the driver.

He said emergency personnel were quickly on scene and the two injured men were taken to hospital by ambulance.

“The 12 students on the bus, who were from École Cobble Hill and George Bonner Elementary School, were put on another bus and taken to school,” Wetzel-Eden said.

“We will have victims services check on them during the day at their schools to make sure the kids are OK. It was truly a Christmas miracle that no one was more seriously injured in the accident.”

Wetzel-Eden said the men’s rowing team continued on their way to Shawnigan Lake for their practice session.



Robert Barron

About the Author: Robert Barron

Since 2016, I've had had the pleasure of working with our dedicated staff and community in the Cowichan Valley.
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