Police won’t lay charges in Manitoba bus-truck crash that killed 17 seniors
Police will not be laying charges in a bus crash that killed 17 seniors in western Manitoba. RCMP say they do not expect to be able to talk to the bus driver, who suffered a traumatic brain injury.
And they say officers have found no explanation as to why he pulled into an intersection when it wasn’t safe.
The bus, carrying seniors to a casino, collided with a semi-trailer while crossing the Trans-Canada Highway near the town of Carberry last June.
Mounties have said the truck, which was travelling east on the highway, had the right of way and attempted to avoid the crash.
Police handed over their findings in January to the Crown’s office, including forensic reports and interviews with witnesses and survivors.
“One witness on the bus said that the bus driver was on his cellphone prior to the collision,” Crown attorney Chris Vanderhooft told a news conference on June 26.
Phone not in use
“RCMP investigators obtained search warrants for the phone and determined the phone was not in use at the time of the collision.”
He said it’s likely that a blind spot prevented the bus driver from seeing the truck. The bus didn’t brake or speed up to avoid the crash.
The Crown considered dangerous driving charges. But Vanderhooft said prosecutors wouldn’t be able to prove a moment of inattention was a marked departure from the standard of care of a reasonable driver in the circumstances.
“Momentary inattention does not constitute dangerous driving,” he said.
The bus driver isn’t able to care for himself, Vanderhooft added. “He is not in a position to make his own decision regarding his personal care or finances, and his condition is unlikely to improve.”
A memorial for those who died was unveiled earlier this month in Dauphin, where most of the victims were from.
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If it was the truck driver’s fault he would have been charged on the spot and lock up then and there
Hmm… In one case a driver is imprisoned for his momentary inattention that caused him to run through a stop sign. But in this case the momentary inattention is not classed as dangerous driving… Something doesn’t add up here!
It is unbelievable that there is no charges. That bus driver was not paying attention Blindspot or no Blindspot. He must’ve been driving a bus for a while to know that. I think the reason they don’t wanna press charges that nobody can put lawsuit against the company or insurance. Injured would have to put a lawsuit against the owner of the bus only and that will get nowhere. and I hope someday the drivers health gets better that he can talk if I was in hundred percent fault I would definitely admit my mistake. One of my drivers was involved at the same intersection when too young couple come through the stop sign at 1 AM in the morning and hit my truck right behind the cab and wrote the truck off luckily them people never got killed. I think just one person had some bruises and stuff. It was a mess, they need to put a stop sign between highways. There’s a stop sign in the beginning. There’s a yield sign between the two highways should be a stop sign. A lot of people think a yield sign is just quick look and keep going. My regards and condolences to all that suffered in this horrific accident. And I hope it never happened again And semi drivers four wheelers whatever pay more attention on the roads double check thank you.