School bus rollover sends 7 to hospital as snow wreaks havoc on Calgary-area roads

A school bus rolled southeast of Calgary, sending seven people to hospitaljust one of more than a hundredcrashes in and around the city assnow and highwindscreatedhazardous road conditions on Friday.

Nine people were aboard the bus when it partially rolled and landed in a ditch as it travelled eastbound in Vulcan County on Highway 542, just east of Highway 24. That's north of Vulcan and east of High River.

Eight elementary and junior high-aged students were on the bus along with one adult driver, according to a news release issued byStuart Brideaux of Emergency Medical Services, Calgary zone.

Three patients a 10-year-old male, a 12-year-old girl and a second male in his mid-teens were taken to the Alberta Children's Hospitalin stable condition with soft tissue injuries, paramedicssaid.

The four other passengers had only minor to no apparent injuries and were taken to Vulcan Hospital for assessment.

One student was driven away by private vehicle, while the driver a man in his 50s wasn't injured.

RCMP are investigating the cause of the accident.

Snow and winds help cause collisions

Calgary police responded to 145 collisions on Friday between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., including 15 in which people were hurt.

• It's starting to look a lot like a white Thanksgiving

Outside the city, a fatal crashhappenedsouthwest of Calgaryin MD Foothillson Highway 22 nearCoalmineRoad.

A sedan left the road, rolled and landed in a ditch, killing the85-year-old male driver.The 87-year-old female passengerwas taken tohospital in serious condition.

Anothercrash, inRockyviewnorth of the city, sent three people to hospital.

Two dump trucks hauling gravel collided head-onon Range Road 11 north of Highway 566.

Both drivers had to be extricated from their vehicles. One is in potential life-threatening condition.The other driver was in serious condition.

A passenger in one of the trucks, a man in his 40s, is also in serious condition.

Alberta EMS reported thathigh winds forced STARS air ambulance to decline two calls.

Caution urged over long weekend

Anyoneplanning to head out of the city for the long weekend should check road reports at 511.ab.

Last year,four people were killed and 68 injured in collisions over the Thanksgiving weekend, saidRCMPSgt.JackPoitras.

"Our increased presence on Alberta roadways is not about writing tickets but reducing those statistics. More patrols on roadways are intended to deter dangerous driving behaviour and make our roads safer for everyone."

Poitras points out that,with harvest still underway in parts of the province, motorists can expect to see farm equipment on rural roads.He also advises drivers to keep an eye out for cyclists, motorcycles, and pedestrians.

Airdrie police also issued a list of reminders for safe driving in winter-like conditions.

• Reduce your speed and wear your seatbelt.
• Turn on your vehicle's headlights/taillights to increase visibility.
• Increase the distance between your vehicle and others on the road to allow more time for stopping.
• Ensure you have a full tank of gas before venturing out as there could be delays due to accidents or stalled vehicles.
• Obey directions frompolice and emergency personnel you may encounter on the road.
• Pack warm clothes, such as gloves/mittens, hats, tuques and blankets in the car in case you have a mechanical breakdown or have to wait in a traffic backup.