Tragedy on Highway 401: School Trip Turns to Chaos After Bus Crash Near London, Ontario
What started as an eagerly anticipated school excursion quickly turned into a morning of panic and heartbreak along one of Ontario’s busiest highways.
A school bus carrying students from Kitchener Waterloo Collegiate and Vocational School (KCI) veered off the westbound lanes of Highway 401 near London, Ontario, on Sunday, ending in a deadly crash that claimed the life of the driver and left several students injured.
According to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), the collision occurred around 9:40 a.m., just moments after the bus departed Kitchener en route to Point Pelee National Park.
The 52-year-old driver from the Waterloo region was pronounced dead at the scene. Four students were transported to hospital with minor injuries, while dozens more were assessed on-site by paramedics.
“The bus appears to have drifted off the roadway before rolling into a ditch,” confirmed OPP Constable Steven Duguay. “There were 42 passengers on board, and thankfully, most escaped without serious injury.” The crash forced a lengthy closure of Highway 401 between Veteran’s Memorial Parkway and Highbury Avenue as investigators examined the wreckage.
Emergency responders established a temporary command post at East Lions Community Centre, where distraught parents reunited with their children. Many of the young passengers were visibly shaken, their school trip abruptly transformed into a scene of confusion and fear.
Thirteen-year-old Charlotte Weldon described the terrifying moment the bus lost control. “It felt like something hit us,” she told CBC News. “The bus just kept turning until we were sideways in a ditch. We crawled out through the emergency hatch and started helping everyone else get out.”
Among the relieved parents was Linnea Knight, who rushed to London after receiving frantic calls from her twin daughters, Maddie and Lily.
“Maddie was screaming — she said everyone was yelling and things were flying everywhere,” Knight recalled. Maddie added, “It felt like we were spinning forever before it stopped. People fell on top of me — it was terrifying.”
Preliminary evidence at the scene suggests the bus may have collided with a temporary construction sign before overturning, though investigators have not yet determined whether the cause was mechanical or medical in nature. “It’s still early,” Const. Duguay noted. “We’re looking into all possible factors, including whether the driver suffered a medical event.”
The Waterloo Region District School Board issued a statement confirming that all students were accounted for and that another bus carrying KCI students was safely redirected back to the school. Director of Education Scott Miller said counseling services are being offered to anyone affected by the tragedy. “Our focus right now is supporting students, families, and staff through this difficult time,” he said.
For parents like Linnea Knight, the incident is a sobering reminder of the importance of safety in student transportation. “We trust that our kids will get to their destinations safely,” she said. “I just hope this leads to a real conversation about how to make these trips safer.”
A Community in Mourning
What was meant to be a memorable educational journey ended in devastation and disbelief. As police continue to investigate the cause of the crash, the Kitchener-Waterloo community is left to grieve the loss of a dedicated driver while holding close the relief that so many young lives were spared. For the students of KCI, the trip to Point Pelee will forever be remembered — not for the adventure that awaited, but for the tragedy that forever changed it.