The University Hospital of Northern B.C. is treating nine patients hurt after a Greyhound bus crashed five kilometres north of Hixon this morning.
“Our understanding is that nine patients will be coming or have arrived,” said Northern Health spokesperson Jonathon Dyck. “Three of those are more serious but non-life-threatening.”
The other six patients have minor injuries.
Dyck said the hospital is prepared to treat the influx of patients. “We prepared this morning to have appropriate resources available and we do.”
Highway 97 was temporarily closed in both directions after the bus crashed and five ambulances were called to the scene on Woodpecker Hill at 7:47 a.m.
As of 10 a.m., the highway was open to single-lane alternating traffic, according to DriveBC.
Greyhound Canada senior vice president Stuart Kendrick, who is in Toronto, said he's trying to get further details.
"We're attempting to get some more info from the RCMP and get some people out there to help with the scene," Kendrick said.
The investigation in to why the bus left the road is ongoing with a team consisting of an RCMP traffic services analyst, a reconstructionist and a Commercial Vehicle Safety inspector, according to a North District RCMP statement.
Police are requesting that any witnesses to Thursday morning's crash contact North District traffic services at 250-649-4004.
