[1]Dave Woodward, 45, was the driver of the bus that collided with a Via Rail train Wednesday. He was found dead on scene. (Photo via Facebook)
UPDATED: SEPTEMBER 19TH, THURSDAY 11:58 AM
Early Wednesday morning, a Via Rail train collided with an Ottawa city bus, killing six people and sending 34 people to hospital. Five people were pronounced dead on the scene, including the bus driver. The other died later in hospital.
All six victims have been identified now, but not all the names have been released. Five men and one woman were killed. OC Transpo has confirmed the identity of the bus driver as Dave Woodard, 46. Two Carleton University Students were among those identified; Connor Boyd and Kyle Nash were confirmed dead. The head of OC Transpo says they can’t confirm how many passengers were on the bus.
Ten others were rushed to hospital with serious injuries. No injuries were reported on the train even though both the locomotive and a passenger car came off the tracks.
According to witnesses, the double-decker bus did not stop for warning signals, despite passengers yelling at the driver to stop. Carleton University student, Tanner Trepanier, was sitting in the upper deck when the bus collided with the train. He says it didn’t appear that the bus was slowing down as it approached the level crossing.
This is the worst bus crash in Ottawa’s history, said Mayor Jim Watson.
A Transportation Safety Board investigation is under way. TSB officials say finding out what led to the tragedy could take months.
Certain trains between Toronto and Ottawa will continue to be replaced by bus service Thursday.
[2]Connor Boyd, 21, and Kyle Nash, 20, were Carleton University students killed in the fatal collision between a Via Rail train and an Ottawa city bus. (Photos via Facebook)