One man has died and three others had been taken to hospital in critical situation after a flying wheel hit a coach bus on the Queen Elizabeth Means (QEW) in St. Catharines Friday, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) say.
Emergency crews had been referred to as to the QEW close to the Backyard Metropolis Skyway bridge at 3:40 p.m. for report of a three-vehicle collision, OPP mentioned in a video posted to X, previously Twitter.
In a information launch Friday, investigators mentioned a passenger van misplaced a wheel on the freeway headed to Toronto, which struck a decide up truck within the Niagara sure lanes, earlier than going by way of the windshield of a coach bus.
A 47-year-old Toronto man, who was on the bus, was pronounced lifeless on the scene, in line with OPP. Police beforehand mentioned the person was 48 years outdated.
In an electronic mail to CBC Toronto on Saturday, police mentioned the driving force of the van, a 45-year-old male from New York state, was charged with working an unsafe motorized vehicle in reference to the collision.
Two different passengers on the bus had been taken to hospital with minor accidents, OPP mentioned. They beforehand mentioned three passengers had been taken to hospital with critical accidents.
The stretch of the freeway was quickly closed Friday night time for police investigation earlier than reopening shortly after 11 p.m.
Investigation into collision underway
In an announcement Saturday, Nice Canadian Coaches, the corporate working the coach bus, mentioned it was carrying a gaggle from Toronto for Safeway Excursions.
“The driving force did a outstanding job maintaining the automobile underneath management and introduced the coach to a secure cease on the facet of the freeway,” the corporate mentioned.
The situation of the opposite passengers who had been hit is at present unknown, it added.
“The motorcoach sustained minor harm and was towed to a restore facility. The remaining 34 passengers had been transported by one other coach carrying Safeway Excursions passengers and returned to Toronto.”
An investigation is ongoing, and police ask anybody with data to contact investigators.
