Updated: IH reports 22 passengers of bus accident south of Merritt remain in hospital
By Nelson Daily Staff
Interior Health said in a media release it continues to provide treatment for individuals injured in the Thursday (August 28) tour bus accident on the Coquihalla Highway 30 kilometers south of Vernon.
IH officials said 43 patients originally transported to Interior Health hospitals, 22 remain in hospital.
Of these, eight are at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops and14 at Kelowna General Hospital.
Interior Health does not provide specific information on patients, but can provide the following general condition information:
- Three are in critical condition
- Two are in serious condition
- 17 have non-life threatening injuries.
Other patients injured in the accident are receiving treatment in Lower Mainland hospitals.
In partnership with Health Emergency Management B.C, the Canadian Red Cross has established a toll-free phone line for people seeking information on the status of family members involved in the bus accident.
The hotline FOR FAMILY MEMBERS ONLY will be open 24 hours a day with operators available in English and Mandarin. The number is 1-888-350-6070.
More than 60 people injured in bus accident south of Merritt
Interior Health is reporting staff and physicians have mobilized to respond to a serious bus accident that has occurred on the Coquihalla Highway, 30 kilometer south of Merritt.
Police said the bus is the only vehicle involved in the accident.
Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) in Kamloops and Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) in Kelowna have initiated a Code Orange response in preparation of accepting patients from the crash.
Additional staff members and physicians are being brought in to support critical areas such as the emergency department, lab, and diagnostics.
RCMP said everyone on the bus sustained some kind of injury, ranging from cuts and scrapes to more serious injuries.
The tour bus was heading from the Okanagan to the Vancouver area when it hit a median and flipped over, RCMP say.
At this time, Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops is anticipating up to 40 patients and Kelowna General up to 20.
Status of patients is unavailable at this time although six of the passengers are being taken to hospital by air ambulance in critical condition.
Further updates will be issued as new information becomes available.
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