A tragic traffic incident unfolded Thursday afternoon on a busy Calgary north-end street, leaving three people dead and several others injured after two city transit buses became engulfed in flames.
Calgary Police Service staff sergeant Andy Woodward confirmed the severity of the multi-vehicle collision, which began when a transit bus struck a private vehicle with enough force to trigger a devastating chain reaction across the roadway.
How the Crash Unfolded
According to police accounts, the initial impact between the transit bus and the car set off a sequence of collisions that would ultimately involve multiple additional vehicles. The force of the first impact was sufficient to propel the bus backward, where it collided with a second transit bus. That second bus then struck three additional vehicles in rapid succession.
"It appears to have begun after a transit bus slammed into a car that then hit other vehicles," Staff Sgt. Woodward explained. "The bus then bounced off that crash, hit a second bus that hit three more vehicles."
Emergency crews responded quickly to the scene, but the intensity of the collision left little time to prevent the tragic outcome. The two transit buses caught fire following the impacts, creating a dramatic and dangerous scene on the busy thoroughfare.
Investigation Continues
Calgary police are continuing their investigation into the exact circumstances that led to the initial collision. Authorities have not yet released details about the identities of the deceased or the specific causes that may have contributed to the crash.
The incident has raised questions about transit safety and traffic conditions on the north-end street where the collision occurred. Residents and commuters across Calgary will be watching as investigators work to determine what factors led to this catastrophic event.
This report is based on information from the Globe and Mail. Read the original story at The Globe and Mail.