MACKENZIE, B.C. - The MLA for Prince George-Mackenzie says a lack of cellphone coverage along Highway 39 created an extra challenge for first responders attending a bus crash on Wednesday.
The crash injured 20 people when a shuttle bus went off the highway. The bus was chartered by a contractor for IREN, a data centre company.
The collision happened in a remote area about four kilometres south of Mackenzie, where cellphone coverage is limited.
Kiel Giddens, the MLA for Prince George-Mackenzie, says poor or non-existent cellphone coverage is something northern residents have dealt with for too long.
The B.C. Highway Patrol says officers were called to the single-vehicle collision about four kilometres south of Mackenzie around 9:10 a.m.
“When police arrived, they found a northbound white shuttle bus in a ditch and about 20 passengers and the driver with injuries ranging from minor to serious,” Sgt. Michael McLaughlin said in a statement.
B.C. Emergency Health Services confirmed a fleet of paramedics responded to the 11300 block of Highway 39 and treated 20 patients.
“Multiple ambulance resources were dispatched, including six ambulances with primary and advanced care paramedics, six air ambulances with critical care paramedics and primary care flight paramedics, two paramedic supervisors, two area managers and a clinical operations director,” spokesperson Brian Twaites said in a statement.
One patient was airlifted from the scene in serious condition. Six others were transported by ground ambulance in serious condition before being airlifted to another hospital for treatment, the statement said.
Thirteen other victims were transported to hospital by bus in stable condition.
A spokesperson for IREN said the company is in close contact with emergency responders as they work to establish what caused the crash.
The B.C. Highway Patrol is asking anyone who saw or recorded video of the bus prior to the crash to contact investigators.
With files from CTV’s Todd Coyne and The Canadian Press