18-year-old trying to get home for Christmas among those killed in B.C. bus crash | 24CA News
A youngster attempting to get residence to her household for the vacations has been recognized as one of many 4 folks killed in a rollover bus crash on an icy stretch of freeway in B.C. on Christmas Eve.
Kathy Kim Le, 18, needed to fly residence for the vacations after visiting her greatest buddy in Kelowna, B.C., however flights had been cancelled on account of frigid, snowy climate.
“She ended up taking [the] bus against her family’s wishes,” learn a message from Le’s uncle, Hung Pham, who confirmed his niece’s dying to 24CA News.
Le was considered one of 4 passengers who died when an Ebus coach travelling from Kelowna to Vancouver went off Highway 97C, crossed the median and flipped onto its aspect, coming to relaxation within the eastbound lanes.
It was darkish, hailing and raining when the crash occurred. Police, who imagine icy street situations performed a job, stated a lot of the 46 folks on board weren’t carrying seatbelts.
Dozens have been hospitalized for his or her accidents.
Pham stated his niece graduated from Aldergrove Community Secondary School, the one highschool within the small bed room group east of Vancouver the place her household lives. He stated she was contemplating shifting in with the buddy she’d been visiting in Kelowna.
Pham stated Le’s dad and mom obtained phrase of their daughter’s dying round 2 a.m. on Christmas Day. They spent the day praying for her throughout a ceremony on the Hoa Nghiem monastery.
He stated the household has been dissatisfied by a scarcity of help or communication from Calgary-based Ebus.
The firm’s president posted a short assertion providing his condolences on-line, however Pham stated his family members have not heard immediately from workers.
“I would like to extend our deepest condolences to families and loves ones so heavily impacted by this tragic event last night,” wrote Ebus CEO Tom Jezersek within the Facebook publish on Christmas Day.
“Our thoughts and sympathy are with those injured and grieving at this time.”
Police haven’t launched the names of any of those that died.
In addition to Le, 24CA News confirmed one other passenger who died was Karanjot Singh Sodhi, 41, a married father-of-two who got here to Canada late final yr.
The RCMP stated the bus stays in police custody because the investigation continues. The driver is co-operating with officers, based on a press release.
Anyone who witnessed the collision or who might need dashcam video of the bus earlier than the crash is requested to contact investigators.
