BC Highway Patrol says a charter bus crashed into a ditch on Highway 39 south of Mackenzie, injuring about 20 people and prompting Code Orange at two hospitals.
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About 20 people were hurt after a charter bus crash north of Prince George, B.C., on Wednesday morning, BC Highway Patrol said.
Police received a call at 9:10 a.m. about a single-vehicle collision on Highway 39 about four kilometres south of Mackenzie, the highway patrol said in a statement.
When officers arrived, they found a white shuttle bus in a ditch, with the driver plus about 20 passengers injured, ranging from minor to serious.
Highway 39 was completely shut down while multiple air and ground ambulances responded, BC Highway Patrol said.
Northern Health confirmed that Mackenzie and District Hospital and the University Hospital of Northern B.C. in Prince George declared a Code Orange to support the response and an anticipated influx of patients.
Highway patrol said the crash remains under investigation and that no arrests had been made, with the cause still uncertain.
Sgt. Michael McLaughlin said the scene was “chaotic” and that police needed time to sort out details, adding that police wanted to speak with anyone with dash camera video or witnesses who saw what happened before the crash.
RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Brett Urano said the public should avoid the area to give emergency personnel space, and warned that drivers should expect significant delays, encouraging people to check DriveBC before travelling.
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