Students and adults on the School District 27 (SD27) bus which crashed down a steep embankment just north of Lac la Hache Friday (June 21) continue to recover from their injuries, said SD27 superintendent Chris van der Mark.
"There were no life-threatening injuries [on the bus], but there were broken bones," he said Saturday of the 30 students and adults who suffered varying injuries.
"It's as best as we could have hoped for given the circumstances."
The bus was bringing grades 6 and 7 100 Mile house and Horse Lake elementary school students home from a field trip at Gavin Lake when it left the highway and went over a steep embankment on a corner at Butler Road north of Lac La Hache. Witnesses on scene said a good Samaritan was struck trying to cross the highway to help.
Van der Mark confirmed students treated at Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake were released to their parents. Others were, and continue to be, treated at other hospitals as well.
"There is a lot of relief from families based on what they saw and what could have been ... obviously there was a tragedy," van der Mark said referring to the death of the pedestrian.
"There are no words ... we express our deep condolences to their family."
Van der Mark noted his gratitude to the staff "who put the kids first and to the first responders and passersby who helped. It's powerful when people work together."
He noted the bus driver has been in contact with the district. There is no information at this time the extent of their injuries or why the bus left the highway.
A full investigation of the crash is underway.
In the meantime, supports are being offered to those involved or touched by the incident.
"It's been hard on people," he said.
