CMV driver charged after school bus crash on Highway 17

OPP have charged a 27-year-old Winnipeg driver with careless driving after his transport rear-ended a stopped school bus with 26 students aboard on Highway 17.

Ontario Provincial Police say no one was injured after a two-vehicle collision on Highway 17 in Spanish just after 8 a.m. Wednesday.

The collision involved a school bus and a commercial motor vehicle. OPP, fire and paramedic services attended the scene.

“The preliminary investigation revealed that the school bus and the CMV were both travelling eastbound on Highway 17. The school bus was stopped with its lights activated and the stop arm fully extended when the CMV rear-ended the bus,” police said in a news release Wednesday.

“There were no reported injuries to the 26 students on board the bus, the bus driver or to the CMV driver,” said police.

As a result of the investigation, the commercial vehicle driver, a 27-year-old man from Winnipeg, Man., has been charged with careless driving and failing to stop for a school bus with its stop arm extended.

The accused is scheduled to appear in court in Blind River on Aug. 18.

Road, school safety reminders

“When a school bus has its stop arm extended and red lights activated, drivers must stop and remain stopped until it is safe to proceed,”said acting staff Sgt. Andre Chenier.

“Commercial motor vehicle drivers operate large vehicles that require greater stopping distances and must always remain vigilant. A moment of inattention can have devastating consequences.”

Highway partly reopened

Police said one lane of Highway 17 reopened shortly before 1:30 p.m., but motorists should expect delays. The OPP had initially closed the highway in both directions and asked motorists to avoid the area or use alternate routes where possible.

For up-to-date road conditions, visit 511on.ca