Classes cancelled after truck slams into Holy Cross School

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This article was published 06/11/2024 (645 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Holy Cross School has cancelled classes after a motorist drove into the Norwood-area elementary building shortly after dismissal on Tuesday.

City police and school staff confirmed the crash happened Tuesday afternoon, and no students or employees were injured.

“A building is a building. Things can be fixed,” principal Catherine Walker said Wednesday afternoon.

“Not a hair was put out of place. No human was injured — that’s all I care about.”

Teachers reported to work on Wednesday to debrief and come up with a plan to resume instruction.

The Winnipeg Police Service said emergency responders were called to the scene after 3 p.m. Tuesday and a subsequent investigation is complete.

Const. Dani McKinnon, a public information officer, said no charges have been laid and there were no signs of criminal intention. Nobody was injured, McKinnon said.

It was a “miracle” the affected classroom was empty, said one employee who asked their identity be kept anonymous.

“Our school community is safe. Truly feeling blessed,” the staff member said via text.

The nursery-to-Grade 8 building, at 300 Dubuc St., is a member of Manitoba Catholic Schools.

The latest enrolment data show there were 371 students registered at the school in 2023-24.

Walker said classes are anticipated to resume on Thursday. Displaced Grade 2 students will learn in the cafeteria indefinitely, the school leader said, adding she is grateful for her “amazing staff team” that has come together after the incident.

A support services teacher is at the ready to help individuals affected by the situation, Walker said.

An estimate of the damage was not immediately available.

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca