School Bus Crash on Highway 401 Leaves Driver Dead, Four Students Injured

A tragic crash on Highway 401 near London, Ont., left a school bus driver dead and four students hospitalized with minor injuries on Sunday morning, Ontario Provincial Police said.

The bus, carrying 42 Grade 9 students from Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate Institute, was traveling westbound around 9:40 a.m. when it veered off the highway and tipped into a ditch. Emergency crews responded quickly, treating multiple students at the scene before transporting four to hospital as a precaution.

“The four students were taken to hospital with minor injuries,” said OPP Const. Steven Duguay. “The 52-year-old driver, a resident of the Waterloo region, was pronounced deceased at the scene.”

Student Charlotte Weldon, 13, described the terrifying moments before the crash. “Something hit it. The whole bus just kept going right, and then it ended up sideways in a ditch,” she recalled.

Investigators are still determining the cause of the crash. Police said it is too early to draw conclusions but noted possible factors could include a medical emergency or mechanical failure.

In a statement, the Waterloo Region District School Board said it is providing counseling and support to students, staff, and families affected by the incident.

“This is a deeply sad day for our school community,” the board said. “Our thoughts are with the driver’s family and everyone impacted by this tragedy.”