15 Patients Discharged, Five Remain Hospitalized After Bus Crash Near Mackenzie, B.C.
Liam O'Connell
11/6/20264 min read
Fifteen people injured in a major shuttle bus crash near Mackenzie, British Columbia, have been released from hospital, while five others continue receiving medical care following an emergency that required a substantial response from first responders and health-care facilities.
The single-vehicle collision occurred Wednesday, November 4, at approximately 9:10 a.m., when a northbound shuttle bus carrying workers left Highway 39 about four kilometres south of Mackenzie.
According to B.C. Highway Patrol, the bus veered off the roadway and ended up in a ditch, leaving passengers with injuries ranging from minor to serious.
Emergency crews responded with six air ambulances and six ground ambulances to assess and transport those injured.
Northern Health confirmed Thursday that all 20 patients had received treatment at hospitals in Mackenzie or Prince George.
Of those patients, 15 had been treated and discharged, four remained hospitalized within the region, and one had been transferred by air ambulance to another medical facility elsewhere in British Columbia.
Officials have not released updated details about the patients' medical conditions, citing privacy considerations.
Major Emergency Response Follows Highway 39 Crash
The crash prompted a coordinated emergency response involving RCMP officers, paramedics, firefighters and highway maintenance crews.
When police arrived at the scene, they found a white shuttle bus in a ditch alongside Highway 39.
The vehicle had been travelling north toward Mackenzie before leaving the roadway.
B.C. Emergency Health Services reported that responders assessed 20 injured individuals, including patients requiring urgent medical attention.
One seriously injured patient was transported directly from the crash site by air ambulance.
Six others were initially transported by ground ambulance before being transferred by air to other medical facilities.
Additional patients were transported to hospital under the supervision of paramedics.
Police described the aftermath of the collision as a chaotic scene, with multiple emergency vehicles required to provide assistance and transport injured passengers.
Highway 39 was closed while responders treated patients, arranged transportation and examined the crash site.
The highway reopened later Wednesday afternoon after emergency crews completed their initial work.
Two Northern B.C. Hospitals Declare Code Orange
The scale of the incident prompted Northern Health to activate Code Orange emergency procedures at Mackenzie and District Hospital and the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia in Prince George.
Code Orange is a hospital emergency designation used to coordinate the response to disasters or mass-casualty incidents that could place unusual demands on medical facilities.
The designation allows hospitals to organize additional resources, prepare staff and manage the arrival of multiple patients requiring treatment.
During the emergency, Northern Health asked residents to avoid visiting the affected emergency departments unless they required life-saving medical care.
The measure was intended to ensure that medical personnel could concentrate on patients injured in the collision.
Mackenzie and District Hospital ended its Code Orange at approximately 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, with emergency services returning to normal.
The University Hospital of Northern British Columbia also lifted its emergency designation later that day.
Both facilities have since resumed regular operations.
Northern Health thanked the doctors, nurses, paramedics and other emergency personnel involved in the response, crediting their coordinated efforts with preventing more serious consequences.
RCMP Say Cause of Crash Remains Unknown
B.C. Highway Patrol has assumed responsibility for investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision.
Police have confirmed that no other vehicles were involved and that no arrests have been made.
Investigators have not determined why the bus left the roadway.
RCMP emphasized that the investigation remains open and that no potential contributing factors have been ruled out.
Collision analysts have been involved in examining the scene, while officers are seeking information from people who may have witnessed the bus travelling along Highway 39 before the crash.
Police are also requesting dash-camera footage that could assist in reconstructing the vehicle's movements.
Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact B.C. Highway Patrol in Prince George at 250-649-4004, referencing file number 2026-956.
WorkSafeBC Launches Separate Investigation
WorkSafeBC is also examining the incident because the shuttle bus was transporting workers connected to a commercial operation.
The agency confirmed it is cooperating with law enforcement to understand the circumstances and identify factors that may have contributed to the crash.
The investigation will consider the incident in the context of workplace health and safety responsibilities.
However, WorkSafeBC has not announced any findings, regulatory violations or enforcement measures.
The bus was transporting workers subcontracted by IREN, an international data centre company with operations in Mackenzie and Prince George.
IREN confirmed that the vehicle had been chartered by one of its contractors.
In a statement following the collision, the company said its primary concern was the well-being of those aboard and their families.
It also confirmed that it was communicating with the contractor, emergency responders and police as investigators worked to establish what happened.
The company has not publicly identified the cause of the crash.
Remote Location Presents Additional Challenges
The collision has also drawn attention to emergency communications along Highway 39, where cellular coverage can be unreliable.
RCMP previously acknowledged that limited cellphone reception and poor satellite connectivity in the area complicated communication during the initial emergency response.
Kiel Giddens, the MLA for Prince George-Mackenzie, said inconsistent cellular coverage is a longstanding concern for residents of northern British Columbia.
The incident has highlighted how limited communications infrastructure can create additional challenges when emergency services respond to serious collisions in remote areas.
However, investigators have not suggested that communication difficulties caused the crash itself.
Five Patients Remain Under Medical Care
As investigators continue examining the collision, the immediate focus remains on the recovery of those still hospitalized.
Northern Health says four patients remain in care at facilities within the region, while another patient was transferred to a hospital elsewhere in the province.
The health authority has declined to provide additional medical details to protect patient privacy.
For the 15 people who have been discharged, the update marks a significant development following Wednesday's emergency.
The coordinated response involving multiple ambulance crews, two hospitals and police demonstrates the resources required to manage a serious transportation incident in northern British Columbia.
With both hospitals returning to normal operations and Highway 39 reopened, attention is now turning toward the ongoing investigations and the recovery of the remaining patients.
RCMP and WorkSafeBC have not announced when their investigations will be completed, and the circumstances that caused the shuttle bus to leave the highway remain unresolved.
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