A serious incident involving a school bus occurred north of Swan River, Manitoba, where multiple children sustained what have been described as "significant" injuries due to a rollover accident that took place in icy conditions on Tuesday morning.
The collision transpired on Highway 10, approximately 13 kilometers south of Mafeking. According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), they were alerted to the scene around 8:30 a.m. Central Time, following reports of the crash.
Reports indicate that four individuals incurred injuries that were significant yet not life-threatening, necessitating their transport to the hospital. In addition to these, several other students received on-site medical treatment before also being taken to medical facilities for further evaluation.
The bus, which belongs to the Sapotaweyak Cree Nation Education Authority, was carrying roughly 15 students ranging from grades nine to twelve, as stated by Chief Nelson Genaille of the Sapotaweyak Cree Nation during an interview with CBC News. Initially, he believed the number of students on board was lower than reported.
Genaille remarked, "Given the rain from the previous day and the icy, slippery conditions today, it's not surprising that the bus rolled over. My immediate concern was for the safety of these kids."
Emergency services responded swiftly to the incident, and those injured were assessed at the Swan Valley Health Centre, according to Genaille. Parents of the affected students began making their way to the Swan River hospital to be with their children during this challenging time.
In a related development, a code orange was declared—an alert typically issued during large-scale emergencies such as multi-vehicle accidents or situations involving mass casualties—at both Winnipeg's Health Sciences Centre and the Swan Valley Health Centre, as noted by Shared Health, which oversees healthcare services in Manitoba.
The Sapotaweyak Cree Nation is situated approximately 425 kilometers northwest of Winnipeg and about 100 kilometers northeast of Swan River.
