School branch followed protocol notifying parents after Central Bedeque bus crash

P.E.I.'s Public Schools Branch says it followed protocol when notifying parents about a crash after a school bus collision in Central Bedeque last week.

The school bus had stopped to drop children off after school when police say it was struck from behind by a pickup truck.

There were 26 children on the bus at the time. None of them wasinjured.

The Public Schools Branch said when there is an accident, parentsare contacted by the schoolwithin 24 hours.

"Following an accident, communication with parents is determined by the severityof the accident and the length of time it takes to get the students home," saida spokesperson for the Department of Education in an email to CBC.

"In the case of the accidentlast week in Bedeque, other buses arrived fairly quickly to take the students home."

It said if the delaywas going to be significant, it would have made radio announcements or had the school contact parents directly to advise that students would be late.

No criminal charges

The 67-year-old man driving the pickup wasgiven a $200fine of driving with undue care and attention, according to RCMP.

Police saidthe man wasn't paying attention, and struck the bus from behind.

RCMPwill not be charging the driver criminally.

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