A school bus carrying around 40 elementary students veered off a county road south of Woodstock, Ont., on Wednesday morning, leading to four children being hospitalized due to minor injuries. The incident occurred at the intersection of Middletown Line and Old 14 Road, where the bus ended up in a ditch with its front facing downwards.
OPP Sergeant Ed Sanchuk expressed concern, mentioning that some of the first responders might have had their own children on the bus. Despite the initial shock, it was a relief that only minor injuries were reported, and the students displayed courage until parents and a replacement school bus arrived to transport them to school. The assistance provided by several Good Samaritans who stopped to help right after the accident was also acknowledged.
The crash took place amid freezing rain conditions in Oxford County, with temperatures near freezing at the time of the single-vehicle incident around 8:55 a.m. Prior warnings about the hazardous road conditions due to freezing rain had been issued by the police, although buses had been operating as usual in the region.
As the investigation into the crash continued, the OPP appealed to any witnesses to come forward and provide information. It was emphasized that drivers needed to exercise caution and reduce speed due to the slick and icy roads caused by the freezing rain.