Bus driver charged following school bus crash near Woodstock, Ont.
A careless driving charge has been laid against a bus driver after a school bus carrying 40 elementary school students rolled over south of Woodstock on Tuesday morning.
OPP were called to the scene at the intersection of Dodge Line and Cuthbert Road around 8:15 a.m., where they found the bus had left the roadway and rolled over onto its side.
Five children reported non-life-threatening injuries, including one child who was airlifted to hospital in London.
The remaining four injured students were taken to hospital in Woodstock.
OPP Const. Ed Sanchuk told CTV News a person from a nearby farm house ran to the scene shortly after the crash to help students get out of the bus.
In an update from Oxford County OPP late Tuesday, the 34-year-old bus driver, a resident of Oxford County, has been charged with careless driving causing bodily harm.
The accused is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Woodstock on April 18.
OPP are on scene of a single-vehicle crash involving a school bus, south of Woodstock. March 5, 2024. (Gerry Dewan/CTV News London)
Education minister reacts to crash
“Obviously this is a worst nightmare for any family. We’re very much thinking about the community that’s impacted, I know this is an independent school, but nonetheless, [we’re] thinking about the family, the community and the kids, and we hope they’re all safe,” Ontario Minister of Education Stephen Lecce said in a statement to reporters at Queen’s Park on Tuesday.
When asked about the issue of school buses not having seatbelts, Lecce said it was too soon to comment and that the school first needs to conclude its investigation into the accident.
“I think our focus right now should be our collective prayer to make sure these kids are safe and they get home,” he said.
— With files from CTV News Toronto's Siobhan Morris
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Chants of 'shame on you' greet guests arriving for the annual White House correspondents' dinner
An election-year roast of U.S. President Joe Biden before journalists, celebrities and politicians at the annual White House correspondents' dinner Saturday.
What is a 'halal mortgage'? Does it make housing more accessible?
The 2024 federal budget announced on April 16 included plans to introduce “halal mortgages” as a way to increase access to home ownership.
Here's where Canadians are living abroad: report
A recent report sheds light on Canadians living abroad--estimated at around four million people in 2016—and the public policies that impact them.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after return to New York from upstate prison
Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer said Saturday that the onetime movie mogul has been hospitalized for a battery of tests after his return to New York City following an appeals court ruling nullifying his 2020 rape conviction.
'We are declaring our readiness': No decision made yet as Poland declares it's ready to host nuclear weapons
Polish President Andrzej Duda says while no decision has been made around whether Poland will host nuclear weapons as part of an expansion of the NATO alliance’s nuclear sharing program, his country is willing and prepared to do so.
Central Alberta queer groups react to request from Red Deer-South to reinstate Jennifer Johnson to UCP caucus
A number of LGBQT+2s groups in Central Alberta are pushing back against a request from the Red Deer South UCP constituency to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson into the UCP caucus.