CNN
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Four people died in a Christmas Eve bus accident that took more than 50 people to hospital in southern British Columbia, officials said.
“Unfortunately, we have confirmed that four passengers have died.” news release From the BC Highway Patrol and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Authorities have not identified any fatalities.
The commercial passenger bus was traveling west on Highway 97C Okanagan Connector when it veered off the road and overturned in its eastbound lane, according to the release.
“The road conditions were described as very bad, with rain and hail, as well as ice and snow on the road surface,” officials said.
The bus driver said he was cooperating with the police.
No other vehicles were involved in the crash between Merritt and Kelowna. The area is about 100km. (62 miles) north of the Canadian-US border.
Officials said the exact number of passengers on the bus had yet to be confirmed, and many of the injured were taken to local hospitals before police could identify them at the scene.
Medical teams at three hospitals in the area were treating at least 53 people after the crash, and local health authority Interior Health said an accident on Highway 97C late Saturday sparked a “code orange” response. I was. Fatal incident.
Information lines have been put in place to help families locate loved ones involved in accidents, Interior Health said.
The cause of the crash is under investigation and no further details were available.