Panic, then relief for woman with grandchildren, niece aboard rolled school bus

Tracey Campeau feared the worst when she rushed to the scene of a crashed school bus that was carrying three of her grandchildren, her niece and 10 other students Tuesday morning.

She started searching for the kids when she arrived and saw the bus with broken windows, a crumpled front end and other bent metal, after it rolled into a snowy ditch south of Mafeking.

“What made me panic was how that bus looked. The bus looked really bad,” Campeau told the Free Press Wednesday. “I just thank God that every child and the bus driver wasn’t seriously injured. I’m just thankful everybody made it.”

The bus was taking students from Sapotaweyak Cree Nation to Swan Valley Regional Secondary School and Northern Lights Institute of Trades and Technology in Swan River, about 450 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, when it rolled on Highway 10.

All 14 students, aged 16 to 18, and the bus driver were taken to hospital in the western Manitoba town. Two of Campeau’s grandchildren and her niece were airlifted to Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg. All three were released from hospital Wednesday.

Campeau said her 17-year-old granddaughter, Drayah, suffered a laceration to her forehead, which required about 40 stitches, and a broken pelvis. The Grade 12 student was fitted for a brace before she was released.

Her 16-year-old grandson, Drayden, was treated for two small spinal fractures. And her niece Michelle, 15, was treated for a spinal fracture and a laceration on her back.

The family members were exhausted and looking forward to getting rest.

“It was really hard for me to see them going through that,” Campeau said. “I’m OK now since the doctors told me they will be fine.”

Campeau said she is the primary caregiver for the three teens, who were visited by Premier Wab Kinew at HSC on Wednesday. She said Kinew offered words of encouragement for their recovery and eventual return to school.

Her other grandchild who was on the bus suffered a cut to her face.

The grandmother said Drayden and Michelle, who are Grade 10 students, were ejected from the bus when it rolled three times. Drayden told her he immediately got up and ran to the highway.

“He must have been in shock,” she said.

Campeau said the bus driver was trying to pass another southbound school bus when the crash happened at about 8:30 a.m. Drayden tried to brace himself when the bus started to go out of control.

“He said he could feel the bus start to slide, and then he put his head down,” Campeau said.

People who visited the crash scene told the Free Press the highway was icy after rain from the previous day froze. RCMP continue to investigate the cause.

“As with any investigation of this nature, our officers have been and will be conducting interviews with involved parties and witnesses. That work is ongoing,” RCMP spokesman Kevin Engstrom said in a statement.

“Additionally, a traffic reconstructionist travelled to the scene on Tuesday to assist with the investigation, which will further help us determine whether charges or a provincial offence notice are appropriate in this incident. A Crown opinion will also be sought.”

A statement from Shared Health and Prairie Mountain Health said only one patient remained at Swan Valley Health Centre, in stable condition. The provincial health authority initially reported four patients would be airlifted to HSC, but said Wednesday only three ended up being transferred.

Campeau was getting ready for work when her daughter rushed into her house and told her about the rollover Tuesday morning.

“I just panicked and broke down,” she said.

The crash scene was about a 40-minute drive from Sapotaweyak. She was relieved when an RCMP officer told her everyone survived and there were no serious injuries.

She began looking for her grandchildren and niece, who were already being taken to the hospital in Swan River.

Shared Health and Prairie Mountain Health hailed the many emergency services and health-care workers who were involved in the response.

The authorities said eight ambulances responded to the scene, arriving within 10 minutes of the dispatch call. Some off-duty paramedics, and hospital and community program rushed to help, as well.

Mental-health supports were offered to the crash victims and their families. Campeau said her grandchildren and niece are upset and will be for some time.

“They’re traumatized right now about getting back on the bus to school,” she said.

The rollover prompted questions about what led up to the crash, and if additional safety measures, such as seat belts on school buses, are warranted. Campeau said she would welcome seat belts on buses.

Progressive Conservative education critic Wayne Ewasko had already proposed legislation to phase in mandatory belts on school buses in Manitoba, beginning in 2026.

Tory Leader Obby Khan on Wednesday called on the majority NDP government to pass the bill in the spring legislative session.

“If we can take steps as a province to reduce injuries and protect passengers, then we have a responsibility to act,” Khan said in a social media post.

Kinew said Tuesday he’s open to the conversation about seat belts on buses, but he will wait for the investigation’s findings before proposing the “right solution.”

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca