A school bus carrying around 40 elementary students veered off a county road south of Woodstock, Ontario on Wednesday morning, leading to four children being taken to the hospital. The incident, which occurred at Middletown Line and Old 14 Road, resulted in minor injuries as the bus came to a stop in a ditch. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Sergeant Ed Sanchuk expressed concern, mentioning that some first responders might have had their own children on board, emphasizing the emotional impact of such events.
Fortunately, only minor injuries were reported, although the students were understandably shaken. Despite the ordeal, the children displayed courage until parents and a replacement bus arrived to transport them to school. The police acknowledged the quick assistance provided by several Good Samaritans who stopped to help immediately after the accident.
The crash took place amidst freezing rain conditions in Oxford County, with temperatures hovering near freezing at around 8:55 a.m. Law enforcement had issued warnings about the hazardous road conditions due to freezing rain, although buses had been operating as usual in the area.
OPP reminded drivers to exercise caution due to the icy roads, urging them to lower their speed and drive carefully. As the investigation into the incident continued, authorities appealed to any witnesses to come forward to provide information.