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The force confirmed the multiple deaths on Sunday afternoon, but did not provide details on the ages or identities of the victims.
Salud Interior, the regional health authority, said 52 patients were transported to four hospitals where 36 were treated for injuries ranging from serious to minor.
He said eight people were still in hospitals in Penticton, Kelowna and Kamloops as of early Sunday, including two in serious condition and two with non-life-threatening injuries.
“Although the number of patients remaining in the hospital is low, this is a life-changing incident for everyone involved, from the initial physical injuries to the emotional and spiritual impacts of an incident like this,” Interior Health said in a statement. release.
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In a statement later Sunday, police said the exact number of passengers has not yet been confirmed and that officers were in the process of locating and speaking with those on the bus, including the driver.
“Due to the exigent circumstances and injuries, many were transported to local hospitals before police had an opportunity to identify them at the scene,” the statement said.
Police said road conditions were described as “very bad with ice and snow on the road surface along with rain and hail.”
Road conditions at the time of the accident were “very bad with ice and snow on the road surface along with rain and hail,” Const said. James Ward in an update on Sunday afternoon.
Ward said a central phone line, 250-545-2211, has been set up for friends and family seeking information on the whereabouts of the passengers. Investigators are also asking any witnesses or those with bus dash cam footage from before the crash to call their local RCMP detail.
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The bus belonged to the Alberta-based company Ebus. Director John Stepovy said the vehicle was traveling from Kelowna to Vancouver at the time of the accident.
“First of all, our thoughts and prayers are with everyone on board, the coach and his family and loved ones,” he said.
“(We are) certainly grateful for the first responders, RCMP, healthcare workers for their support and work on this and I can say that we continue to cooperate with RCMP.”
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Ebus, a sister company to the Red Arrow Bus Company, offers services through the Alberta cities of Edmonton, Red Deer, Calgary and Fort McMurray, as well as from Vancouver into the interior of British Columbia.
Interior Health implemented a Code Orange response, indicating a disaster or mass casualty event, in the hours following the accident. Additional intensive care staff were brought in in areas including emergency departments, medical imaging, and surgery.
DriveBC, the communications arm of the BC Ministry of Transportation, said the stretch of highway was cleared and reopened shortly before 8:30 a.m. local time Sunday.
The ministry issued a traffic advisory after the highway reopened warning of poor driving conditions on roads in the southern Interior due to snow and freezing rain.
The ministry urged drivers to avoid non-essential travel, exercise caution and be prepared for road closures at short notice if they must be on the roads.
BC Premier David Eby, Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth, Health Minister Adrian Dix and Transportation Minister Rob Fleming released a joint statement Saturday night expressing their shock and sadness at the accident.
“Our thoughts are with those affected by the accident, their loved ones, and the first responders and medical workers who are giving their all to treat people and keep them safe,” the statement read.