A bus crashed on B.C.'s Highway 97C near Merritt on Christmas Eve, sending at least 53 people to area hospitals and forcing officials to close the route overnight.
The crash happened shortly after 7 p.m. near the Loon Lake exit on the Okanagan Connector, officials said.
Injured passengers were taken to hospitals in Kelowna, Penticton and Merritt, Global News reports. No deaths were immediately reported and the exact nature of the passengers' injuries remains unclear.
\u201c\u26d4 UPDATE - #BCHwy97C CLOSED between #AspenGrove, junction with #BCHwy5A and junction to #BCHwy97 to #Kelowna and #PeachlandBC. Assessment in progress. #Westbank #YLW \n\u2139\ufe0f For more info: https://t.co/hzT5Azme0V\u201d— DriveBC (@DriveBC) 1671938601
BC Premier David Eby described in as a "serious bus accident" in a statement on Christmas Eve, and Health Minister Adrian Dix says Interior Health has "initiated a code orange response." A code orange is typically declared at hospitals when a disaster or mass casualty event has happened.
The premier expressed his condolences to the victims and their families, and BC Emergency Health Services has set up a hotline for relatives to locate their loved ones.
\u201cUPDATE: An information line has been set up for families to locate their loved ones involved in the accident on #Hwy97C Call operator can advise of patient locations for those in our care. Please call 250-545-2211 (operator will answer after the greeting)\u201d— Interior Health (@Interior Health) 1671960208
The cause of the crash was not immediately released.
The bus involved in the crash was operated by Ebus, Kelowna's Castanet News reports.
Ebus director John Stepovy told Castanet that the company is working with the RCMP on the situation, and that it remains unclear what happened.
Environment Canada issued a special weather statement for the Okanagan Connector on Saturday afternoon, warning that freezing rain could pose a danger to drivers. The weather agency warned of ice build-up "due to freezing rain," with the danger expected to last until at least early Monday.
The route along Highway 97C re-opened on Sunday morning.
This is a developing story .
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
A Bus Crashed On BC's Highway 97C On Christmas Eve & The Premier Says It's 'Serious'
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