CALGARY, Alberta — Last Thursday, a student on board a school bus was killed and 10 others were injured after their bus collided with a gravel truck that was parked on the side of the road.
Investigators believe the bus drifted into the shoulder of the right-hand lane, where it struck the rear, driver's side of the gravel truck. The impact of the collision sheared off the passenger side of the bus, and investigators said that it appears as though the driver then lost control of the bus and hit a light pole.
Immediately following the crash, the children were transported to a local hospital, where one student — a 9-year-old girl named Kathelynn Occena — later died. The bus driver was uninjured but is reportedly suffering emotional distress.
As of last Friday, the CPS was continuing to investigate the crash and charges were pending.
On Monday, Colleen Ryan, vice principal at Mountain View Academy said, "There still exists a need to bus our children. We will not fear the buses on our roads. We will not let fear steal any part of our lives."
Ryan added that a Book of Remembrance is being created to honor Occena's memory. Students, parents and Mountain View Academy staff members will have an opportunity to contribute and the book will be presented to Occena's family later this week.
