A bus accident occurred in Fredericton last Monday when the vehicle flipped over during a freezing-rain storm, as passenger Nathan Curry was en route to the mall. The incident happened as the bus driver attempted to maneuver around a stalled vehicle, causing the bus to slide on ice and collide with a telephone pole. The crash resulted in shattered windows and some passengers being thrown across the bus.
Fredericton police responded to the scene around 5 p.m., in the Hilton Road area off Wilsey Road. Seven individuals were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. On the same day, Fredericton police attended to approximately 11 other weather-related accidents within the city, while New Brunswick RCMP recorded 58 collision reports in their jurisdiction between noon on Dec. 29 and the following morning.
Nathan Curry, one of the passengers, recounted the event, stating that he anticipated the crash and managed to brace himself. Following the impact, he observed that several passengers were injured and in need of assistance. The bus driver and some passengers escaped through the windshield, with Curry taking the initiative to locate a first aid kit for those in need.
Despite the chaos, Curry acknowledged the challenging weather conditions as a contributing factor to the accident. After the arrival of emergency responders, he confirmed his own safety and decided to walk home, which was a short distance away from the scene.
An ongoing investigation into the incident is being conducted by the city, responsible for Fredericton Transit. The transit manager emphasized the seriousness with which such accidents are treated and expressed willingness to discuss the matter post-investigation. The investigation details, including the responsible party and timeline, were not disclosed.
The transit manager highlighted the continuous evaluation of winter weather conditions and the cautious approach adopted when considering service interruptions during storms. Although no reports of unsafe conditions were received from operators or dispatchers at the time of the crash, the unpredictability of ice storms was acknowledged.
Transit service was eventually suspended at 7:15 p.m. on the day of the accident, with the last run completed at 9:15 p.m. Despite significant damage to the bus, no disruptions in service were expected.
