A two-tiered tour bus was in an accident after colliding with a big-rig truck on the afternoon of Tuesday, June 23, 2015. Dozens of passengers were on board at the time of the crash, and at least four of those traveling on the Toronto-bound bus were reported as having sustained serious injuries. First responders evaluated and treated some of the wounded on scene, while the passengers who escaped injury were transported to a nearby location via shuttle. A total of 23 injuries were reported in total, with one of the injured parties so badly wounded that he had to be taken to an area hospital via airlift for treatment.
One passenger described the scene of the accident as horrific, with one passenger trapped and screaming until she could be mechanically extracted from the bus. The accident took place near the town of Lancaster on Highway 401, a main thoroughfare serving east Ontario. It is unclear just how the collision took place; all reports indicate that the big-rig truck and the tour bus—owned by New Jersey-based Megabus—collided while both vehicles were traveling in the westbound lanes of the highway, and the double-decker bus left the roadway, finally landing at a tilted angle propped against some trees by the roadside. The investigation remains ongoing at this time, and there is no word yet as to whether charges will be filed.
Passengers and witnesses reported a scene of bloody carnage. One person on board described the scene as so frightening that he opted to jump from a broken, second-deck window rather than remain on board. Multiple passengers, both injured and non-injured, used the shattered bus windows as a means of escape, while others remained trapped within or opted to stay on board to calm their wounded peers until help arrived.
Megabus released a statement acknowledging that the bus involved in the crash was under their ownership, and officials from Megabus have stated that they are doing everything in their power to comply with requests from investigating officers to offer aid during the course of the investigation into the accident.