Several teenagers sustained severe injuries when a school bus driver lost control while attempting to overtake another vehicle on a slippery Manitoba highway, according to the RCMP. Emergency services rushed to the scene on Highway 10 after a school bus carrying 15 individuals, including the driver and 14 students aged 16 to 18, rolled over just south of Mafeking. Fortunately, there were no fatalities, but four individuals, including three teens and an adult, sustained significant but non-life-threatening injuries and were airlifted to a hospital in Winnipeg.
The bus, transporting students from Sapotaweyak Cree First Nation to schools in the area, crashed due to icy conditions on the road. Some students were treated at the scene and taken to a local health center for further care. The incident prompted the Elbert Chartrand Friendship Centre to provide a comforting space for affected families.
The school division deployed counselors and a knowledge keeper to offer emotional support to the students and their families. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew reached out to the Chief to show his support following the distressing incident. The conversation about mandating seatbelt use on school buses resurfaced, with the Opposition Progressive Conservatives advocating for this safety measure. The Canada Safety Council highlighted the rarity of school bus accidents resulting in fatalities, but discussions on safety precautions continue.