On July 16,2015 at 1:30 pm South Okanagan Traffic Services, Osoyoos RCMP and Keremeos RCMP responded to a motor vehicle collision on Highway 3 approximately 20 km west of Osoyoos.

A Dodge pick up pulling a travel trailer was west bound on Highway 3 when it attempted to pass a tractor trailer unit. A school bus travelling east on Highway 3 was carrying approximately 30 youths from a youth church camp in Princeton. The driver of the Dodge truck lost control while trying to swerve back in front of the tractor trailer. The driver of the Dodge truck was unable to regain control and slid sideways, driver’s door first into the front of the bus. The main body of the travel trailer broke free from the trailer frame and went over an embankment bursting into flames and was destroyed by fire.

Two of the occupants from the bus were taken to South Okanagan General Hospital (SOGH) in Oliver with minor injuries. The occupants of the Dodge were also transported to SOGH and Penticton Regional Hospital with minor injuries. Ministry of Forests (BC Fire Service) were on scene to extinguish the brush fire caused by the fully engulfed travel trailer.

Highway 3 was closed for approximately 2 hours.

South Okanagan Traffic Services has taken conduct of the investigation. No further information will be released.

Pictures from the scene supplied by Franco DePieri