Highway 69 reopens after serious crash between school bus, commercial vehicle

Highway 69 is reopened in Sudbury after a serious crash Monday morning at the Richard Lake hill, Ontario Provincial Police say.

The collision involving a tractor-trailer and a school bus with children on board happened in the northbound lane around 8:30 a.m., transportation consortium executive director Renee Boucher told CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca in an email.

After being closed in both directions for six hours, the highway reopened around 2:30 p.m.

The bus driver sustained life-threatening injuries, police said in a news release.

Boucher said 12 students from Rainbow District School Board and Conseil scolaire du Grand Nord were on board at the time and all of their families have been notified.

Seven students were taken to hospital by ambulance, two of whom sustained serious, but non-life-threatening injuries, and the other five as a precaution.

“There were no reported injuries to the other students or the driver of the CMV,” OPP said.

Charges are pending, Const. Rob Lewis told CTV News reporter Lyndsay Aelick in an interview, but investigators are still working to confirm the cause and it could take up to four to five months for charges to be laid.

“The consortium and the school bus operator are fully cooperating with the OPP as they investigate the collision,” Boucher said.

“The consortium and the school boards are reaching out to support the families of the students who were on the bus.”

The road will be closed in both directions at Crown Ridge Road at the entrance to the Carol Campsite to Highway 537 during the investigation.

“Motorists can obtain road conditions/closure by calling 511 or visiting the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario website at 511on.ca,” OPP said.

No word on if there are any charges pending.