A catastrophic chain-reaction crash in Calgary's northeast Thursday afternoon has left three people dead and at least 16 others injured, with emergency responders describing the scene as among the most severe traffic collisions they have encountered.
The mass casualty incident unfolded just after 1 p.m. on the 800 block of Saddletowne Circle N.E., involving eight vehicles including two City of Calgary Transit buses. The collision resulted in a fierce fire that engulfed one of the transit buses, with thick black smoke visible from considerable distances.
How the Crash Unfolded
According to Calgary Police Service Staff Sgt. Andy Woodward, the incident began when one bus collided with a white vehicle, which then struck a black vehicle, followed by impact with a cube van. The chain of collisions continued as the first bus struck a stationary transit bus at a nearby stop, causing that vehicle to cross the roadway and strike two additional vehicles.
"In 36 years of policing, this may be the largest collision scene I've ever responded to," Woodward told reporters at the scene.
Three passengers aboard the burning bus were killed in the incident. The vehicle involved was powered by liquid natural gas, which ignited catastrophically after impact, sending flames shooting from the roof of the bus.
Emergency Response and Injuries
Of the 16 injured, 10 were transported to hospital. Emergency Health Services Alberta reported that injuries ranged from life-altering to serious, with one person sustaining injuries described as life-altering and another in serious condition. One of the transit bus drivers was among those hospitalized with serious injuries.
"Beyond the hospitalized patients, we had five individuals with non-life-threatening injuries who were assessed at the scene and transported for further evaluation," said Adam Loria, public information officer with Emergency Health Services Alberta.
A Calgary Police Service officer responding to the emergency was also injured when the burning bus exploded. According to Woodward, the officer ran toward the vehicle after spotting the fire, and the blast caught her as flames spread rapidly.
"Early indications suggest she approached the bus as the fire intensified, and then the explosion occurred," Woodward explained. The officer sustained minor injuries from the blast and was taken to hospital for treatment.
Investigation Underway
Calgary Police Service continues investigating the cause of the initial collision. Anyone with information about the incident or video footage is encouraged to contact Calgary Police at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.
This report is based on information from Global Calgary.