Bus driver charged after LOLPS accident

Jeff Green | Feb 16, 2012

Students at Land O'Lakes Public School had a day off last Friday, but not because buses were cancelled due to icy roads, as has been common in recent weeks.

School was cancelled because of a power failure, and the failure was caused by one of the school's buses.

A Stinson Bus Lines bus skidded off the Mountain Grove Road as it was headed south towards the school not long after turning off Highway 7. The bus travelled over a driveway and struck a hydro pole before coming to a stop in a snow bank.

Sixteen children were riding to school on the bus, in addition to a bus monitor and the driver. The children ranged in age from 6 to 13. Of the 16, two students were treated for minor injuries at the scene and one of them was conveyed to hospital. The student was later released.

The Central Frontenac Fire department was on the scene and Frontenac County paramedics and the OPP followed soon after.

Witnesses have said that the bus was the only vehicle involved in the accident. This was confirmed by the OPP in a media release.

“Investigation revealed that the school bus was the only vehicle involved and that it had been travelling south on Mountain Grove Road when it drifted off the paved portion of the road and struck a hydro pole,” said the release, “ … the driver of the bus was charged with Careless Driving contrary to the Highway Traffic Act.”

Mary Stinson, the owner of Stinson's Bus Lines, the driver's employer, says that the route has been covered by another driver.

On the day of accident, Stinson arrived at the accident scene shortly after it took place.

“It was certainly my responsibility to be there,” she said. “My main focus on the day was to support the kids and call the families, and I must say that the efforts of the fire fighters, passers-by, emergency services personnel, school officials, and my own employees as well were very much appreciated.”

One passer-by was an electrical contractor who happened to be driving by shortly after the bus went off the road. He was able to ensure that the power lines were not a threat to the children and helped evacuate the bus safely, allowing the children to vacate the accident scene quickly.

The bus driver had only recently been hired by Stinson Bus Lines, but she has been working for another bus company and is not new to the profession.

Mary Stinson said she does not know if the bus can be fixed or if it will have to be written off.

“I'm just very relieved that no one was seriously injured,” she said.