Winnipeg parent concerned over school communication after son suffers concussion following bus crash

A Winnipeg parent is speaking out about a school division’s response to a bus hitting a bridge while travelling on a field trip. CTV’s Joseph Bernacki explains.

A Winnipeg father says he is not happy with the communication received from a school division after he said his son suffered a concussion following a bus crash one week ago.

Camrin Denorer said his 12-year-old son, Dwain, was on a field trip with other students from John M. King School to The Leaf at Assiniboine Park when he said the bus he was on struck the bottom of a bridge while driving on Wellington Crescent.

“The bus backed up, pulled the U-turn, continued on its road, and dropped the children off at The Leaf at the Assiniboine Zoo,” Denorer said. “From there, the children were just asked by a teacher if they were OK and continued on with their day.”

Denorer said Dwain started feeling dizzy and sick later in the day, and they took him to the hospital.

He said a letter was sent home with students at 3:30 p.m. that day, confirming the incident happened.

The letter, which was shared with CTV News, said the bus “did not meet the clearance requirements” and struck under the bridge.

“The school bus was travelling at a minimum speed; however, the slight impact may have caused your child to nudge forward,” the letter reads. “The students were assessed and everyone was safe and no injuries were reported.”

The letter asked parents to monitor their children for symptoms of whiplash.

Dwain was eventually diagnosed with a probable concussion, Denorer said. He said one week later, his son is still feeling the effects of the concussion and has been told to only go to school for half the day until his symptoms improve.

“He states that his head hurts or that his eyes hurt, and he has light sensitivity and mobility issues,” he said.

Denorer said a representative from the Winnipeg School Division told him Thursday that a claim was opened with Manitoba Public Insurance on Monday, four days following the incident. He also said the division told him a private transport company was running the bus that day.

He said he was not happy with the communication from the division about the incident.

“I want to see clearer lines of communication between the school and the parents, not just a letter; maybe an email or a phone call,” he said. “That way, you know you’re actually touching base with people that have been affected by it. That way, these children are actually being monitored properly.”

CTV News has reached out to the Winnipeg School Division and the Winnipeg Police Service for comment and is awaiting a response.