The Coast Mountain bus driver has been identified as Charanjit Parhar, an employee for more than 20 years. A moment of silence will be observed on all buses and SeaBuses at 3pm today.
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A Vancouver bus driver who was trapped between two transit buses in downtown Vancouver on Monday died in hospital.
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His friends identified him as Charanjit Parhar, an employee of the Coast Mountain Bus Company for more than 20 years.
“It is with great regret that I share with you that the employee who was seriously injured in Monday’s incident involving two Coast Mountain Bus Company buses has died. I would like to express our deepest condolences to the employee’s co-workers, friends and loved ones during this difficult time, ”said Kevin Quinn, CEO of TransLink.
He added that TransLink offers support and advice to all employees. “This tragic incident is being investigated by the authorities and internally to determine what happened.”
Unifor Local 111 President Balbir Mann posted a note on Facebook about Parhar’s death.
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“It is with deep sadness that I have to announce the passing of our brother,” Mann said, adding that union support is available to anyone in need.
Tributes were posted online Wednesday describing him as a kind person. One person called him “a really sweet guy” whose tragic and sudden death shocked everyone, while another wrote that Parhar was the kindest person he had ever met.
Coast Mountain Bus Company President Michael McDaniel said the company is in mourning.
“He was a longtime employee, and all of his co-workers and friends will miss him deeply,” he said.
“At Coast Mountain Bus Company, we are a close-knit family, and today, our family mourns the loss of one of its valued members.”
To honor him, there will be a moment of silence on all buses and SeaBuses at 3pm on Wednesday, flags will be lowered at half mast, and black ribbons will be attached to all buses on Friday.
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“I have offered my condolences to the employee’s family, friends and co-workers and we will cry together. This news has caused shock and pain throughout our organization, and we are offering advice and support to all employees, ”McDaniel said.
BC Emergency Health Services responded to a report of a patient trapped between buses in West Cordova near Cambie streets around 8:20 a.m. Several units of paramedics responded and he was taken to the hospital in serious condition, according to emergency services.
Vancouver Police and WorkSafeBC are investigating.
“The circumstances of this fatality are heartbreaking,” Const said. Tania visintin
Details of what happened have not yet been released, but police say Parhar was dealing with a mechanical problem on his bus.
Mann said they still don’t know what caused the accident, but said the bus driver may have gotten off the bus to fix a problem. He may have been lowering the poles to let the other bus pass, he said.
The driver of the other bus is traumatized, he said. Mann said he will take time off from work and has been offered counseling. He said help will also be offered to other Vancouver depot members who were at the scene.
It was Vancouver’s thirteenth fatal collision in 2021.
Reference-vancouversun.com