A school bus carrying about 30 youths was involved in a collision causing minor injuries west of Osoyoos last Thursday.
The accident and resulting wildfire led to the closure of Highway 3 for two hours.
RCMP South Okanagan Traffic Services said they, along with RCMP from Osoyoos and Keremeos, responded to the accident around 1:30 p.m. about 20 kilometres west of Osoyoos.
A Dodge pickup truck pulling a travel trailer was westbound on Highway 3 when it attempted to pass a tractor-trailer.
The eastbound school bus was carrying about 30 youths from a youth church camp near Princeton, South Okanagan Traffic Services said in a news release.
The driver of the Dodge lost control while trying to swerve back in front of the tractor-trailer and slid sideways into the front of the bus.
The main body of the Dodge’s travel trailer broke free from its frame and went over an embankment, bursting into flames.
The vehicle was destroyed by the fire.
Two of the occupants from the bus were taken to the South Okanagan General Hospital in Oliver with minor injuries and occupants of the Dodge were also taken to Oliver and Penticton Regional Hospital with minor injuries.
B.C. Wildfire Service was on the scene to extinguish the brush fire caused by the fully engulfed travel trailer.
Several of the children on the bus were transported to Osoyoos on the town’s community bus. They spent some time at the Sonora Community Centre and they were fed thanks to a generous donation by AG Foods in Osoyoos.
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