Serious accident, minor injuries – Sherbrooke Record

School bus and SUV collide on Highway 143

By William Crooks

Initiative for local journalism

In the early morning hours of June 6, a collision occurred between a school bus and an SUV, causing several minor injuries and requiring a quick response from emergency services. The incident occurred around 7:30 a.m. on Highway 143.

Emergency procedures and details of the accident scene

“We received a 911 call at 7:43 a.m. requesting paramedic assistance in caring for multiple patients following a car accident,” local fire chief Dany Brus told The Record on June 6. When we arrived at the scene, paramedics and RCMP officers were already on site.

“The RCMP were able to respond quickly because one of their officers drove by and called for help,” Brus added.

According to initial reports from Louis-Philippe Ruel, spokesman for the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), the car driven by a man in his 40s crossed into the path of the oncoming school bus, causing both vehicles to lose control and overturn.

“The exact reason why the car swerved is still being investigated,” confirmed Ruel. “There does not appear to be any criminal activity involved.”

Minor injuries

The school bus of a local French school service center was carrying a dozen schoolchildren.

“The injuries were relatively minor and included bumps, bruises and a broken finger,” off-duty border agent Eric Clark told The Record on June 6. Clark stopped to assist with the accident until firefighters arrived.

“The children were understandably shaken, but our teams did an excellent job comforting and reassuring them,” Brus said.

Clark said the driver of the SUV suffered more serious injuries but was conscious and on his feet when emergency responders arrived.

Firefighters, paramedics and police then worked together to get the situation under control. “It was a great example of cooperation between all three services,” Brus noted.

Fire Station 3 (Ayer’s Cliff) was primarily responsible for the operation, with reinforcements from Station 1 in Stanstead.

Investigation and follow-up

Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the accident.

“We had officers on site taking photos and measurements,” Ruel said. More information is expected to be released as the investigation progresses.

Despite the traumatic event, the children and adults involved were fortunate to escape with relatively minor injuries.

“Given the severity of the accident, we are relieved that there were no critical injuries,” Ruel said.

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