5 students sent to hospital after Blind River school bus crash
Ontario Provincial Police are investigating after a school bus carrying elementary students collided with a transport truck in Blind River on Thursday morning, sending several to hospital.
Five elementary students taken to hospital in Blind River school bus crash
Five elementary students taken to hospital in Blind River school bus crash. June 19, 2025 (Makayla Hoglund)
It happened at the intersection of Causley Street/Highway 17 and Hanes Avenue around 8:30 a.m. June 19, OPP said in a news release.
'At the time of the incident, the school bus was transporting seventeen elementary students from Blind River Public School and St. Mary's Catholic School,' police said.
'Five students were transported to the Blind River hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.'
The mother of two children who were riding on the bus at the time CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca that they are both fine.
'One ended up at the hospital just because she hit her head on the window, so she went for observation,' Carolyn McKay said.
'She's all good though, little scrape and maybe a black eye.'
Crash between school bus and transport on Highway 17 in Blind River
Crash between school bus and transport on Highway 17 in Blind River. June 19, 2025 (Tommy Wabegijig)
Principal stepped up to help
The mother of a little boy who was taken to hospital said while it was definitely a scary situation for the parents, she is glad everyone is OK.
'The hospital's response was amazing and blew me away,' Makayla Hoglund told CTV News.
'And it was nice to see that the principal personally made sure to ride with the kids that had to go and sat there with them until parents arrived.'
Five elementary students taken to hospital in Blind River school bus crash
Five elementary students taken to hospital in Blind River school bus crash. June 19, 2025 (Makayla Hoglund)
Not enough room
Before crossing train tracks, school bus drivers must stop and open the door to listen for any oncoming trains.
At the intersection where the collision happened, a set of train tracks runs parallel to Highway 17.
'There is not enough room between that light and the train tracks to be completely safe for the bus to fully stop there, I don't believe,' McKay said.
The speed limit for most of Highway 17 is 90 km/h, but drops to 50 km/h when it becomes Causley Street in Blind River.
Photos from the scene appear to show a white Gordon Food Service tractor-trailer was involved in the crash.
Five elementary students taken to hospital in Blind River school bus crash
Five elementary students taken to hospital in Blind River school bus crash. June 19, 2025 (Makayla Hoglund)
'We are aware of the incident on Highway 17 in Blind River, and are relieved only minor injuries were sustained,' said Karen Karatkiewicz, a Gordon Food Service spokesperson.
'The safety of our community and all individuals on the road is always our utmost concern. We are fully cooperating with the authorities as they investigate the incident.'
CTV News has also reached out to the bus consortium Algoma & Huron-Superior Transportation Services and bus operator AJ Bus Lines and is waiting for responses.
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