Three people were killed and 19 others injured after a devastating chain-reaction crash involving two city buses and several vehicles sparked a massive fire and explosion on a busy Canadian roadway.
The deadly collision occurred Thursday, October 15, around 1:10 p.m. in the Saddle Ridge neighborhood of Calgary, Alberta, leaving emergency crews facing what one veteran police officer described as one of the largest crash scenes of his career.
According to Calgary police, the disaster began when a city transit bus traveling northbound on Saddletowne Circle struck a truck near the intersection of 80th Avenue Northeast.
The impact sent the truck into another lane, where it sideswiped an SUV before crashing into the back of a box truck.
But the destruction didn’t stop there.
The moving bus continued forward and struck a sedan, pushing the car through the intersection and into another truck.
Moments later, the bus slammed into the rear of a second Calgary Transit bus, setting off a terrifying series of events.
The second bus, which was powered by compressed natural gas, moved forward and collided with another vehicle.
During the crash, its natural gas tanks ignited.
Within seconds, flames spread rapidly, triggering an explosion that engulfed much of the bus.
Three passengers aboard the second bus were killed.
Emergency responders rushed to the intersection, where they encountered severely damaged vehicles, injured passengers and thick black smoke rising from the burning bus.
Firefighters immediately began battling the flames while other crews worked to rescue a bus driver trapped inside one of the vehicles.
The Calgary Fire Department declared a mass-casualty incident, bringing additional emergency personnel and resources to the scene.
According to Alberta emergency medical officials, 19 people were injured in the collision.
Ten patients were transported to hospitals by ambulance, including one person suffering life-threatening injuries. Other victims were evaluated at the scene, with several requiring additional hospital examinations.
Police later confirmed that the driver of the first bus suffered life-altering injuries, while 16 other people sustained less serious injuries.
A Calgary police officer was also injured while attempting to help those involved.
According to Staff Sgt. Andy Woodward, the officer ran toward the burning bus shortly before the flames intensified and an explosion occurred.
She suffered minor injuries and was transported to a hospital. Police later confirmed she was recovering at home.
Woodward, who has spent 36 years in law enforcement, said the scale of the destruction was unlike almost anything he had encountered.
“I think this is probably the biggest scene that I’ve worked on in relation to the collision that we’ve got here,” he told reporters.
The fire presented additional challenges because of the natural gas system aboard the second bus.
Specialized hazardous materials crews were called in to inspect the damaged vehicle and ensure its fuel system no longer posed a danger.
Calgary Transit confirmed that both buses were operating regular passenger routes when the collision occurred.
Following the tragedy, Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas offered condolences to the victims’ families and thanked emergency workers for their response.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith also expressed sympathy for those affected.
By Friday, October 16, police had identified all three people killed in the crash and notified their families. Their names had not been publicly released.
Investigators are now working to determine what caused the initial collision and why the first bus continued through the intersection before striking the second bus.
Police say they have not determined whether speeding, distracted driving, impairment or another factor contributed to the crash.
The Calgary Police Service is investigating the sequence of collisions, while fire investigators are examining the ignition of the natural gas tanks and the resulting blaze.
The medical examiner’s office is also conducting its investigation into the three deaths.
Authorities are asking anyone who witnessed the collision or has dashcam footage from the area to contact Calgary police.
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