A mother from Sapotaweyak Cree Nation shared that her 16-year-old daughter is on a path to recovery after sustaining injuries in a school bus accident on a snowy Manitoba highway. The incident, involving 14 high school students and a driver, occurred as the bus was en route from Sapotaweyak to schools in Swan River. The bus overturned near Mafeking on Highway 10, with initial reports indicating that the driver lost control while attempting to pass another bus. Law enforcement authorities are conducting a forensic investigation into the crash.
As a result of the accident, four individuals, including three teenagers and one adult, sustained significant but non-life-threatening injuries and were airlifted to the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg. Remaining passengers received medical attention at the scene and were later transported to a local hospital in Swan Valley, where families and caregivers gathered to support the students.
The mother, Christa Copapay, expressed her relief upon finding her daughter, Kylee, safe but injured. Kylee suffered two broken vertebrae in the collision and was visibly in pain. Copapay emphasized the emotional toll on parents and stressed the importance of enhancing safety measures on school buses, advocating for the inclusion of seatbelts.
Following the incident, concerns about bus safety were raised by Frank Gott, a teacher from Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation, who witnessed the aftermath. Gott, a former Sapotaweyak resident, highlighted the absence of seatbelts on school buses and urged for their implementation to prevent similar accidents in the future.
During a separate news conference, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew acknowledged the severity of the situation and expressed willingness to discuss the potential requirement of seatbelts on school buses. While emphasizing the need for a thorough understanding of the circumstances surrounding the rollover, Kinew encouraged patience in proposing effective solutions.
The Opposition Progressive Conservatives recently introduced a bill advocating for mandatory seatbelt use on new school buses in Manitoba, addressing the ongoing dialogue on school bus safety regulations.