Calgary Launches Investigation After Bus Crash Kills Three, Injures 19

Three people have been killed and 19 others injured after a chain-reaction crash involving two public transit buses and six other vehicles in Calgary, Canada, police said.

The collision occurred shortly after 1 p.m. on Thursday, October 15, along Saddletowne Circle near 80 Avenue Northeast in the city. The crash triggered a major fire, with thick smoke rising from one of the buses as emergency crews rushed to the scene.

According to Calgary police, the incident began when a moving transit bus collided with a car, setting off a sequence of impacts involving several vehicles. The bus travelled through an intersection and struck another transit bus that was stopped at a bus stop. The second bus was pushed across the road and collided with additional vehicles before catching fire.

Three people aboard the bus that caught fire died at the scene. Emergency officials said 19 people were injured, including 10 who were transported to hospital by ambulance. A police officer who responded to the incident was also injured and taken to hospital.

Authorities believe the fire was intensified by the second bus’s liquid natural gas fuel system. Video and photographs from the scene showed flames engulfing the roof of the bus and heavy smoke billowing into the air. Officials have not yet established the cause of the initial collision.

Calgary Police Staff Sergeant Andy Woodward described the crash scene as among the largest he had encountered in his 36-year career. Investigators are collecting surveillance footage from nearby businesses and examining the sequence of collisions to determine what happened.

Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas expressed condolences to the victims’ families and said a full investigation would be conducted. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith also conveyed sympathy to those affected and wished the injured a recovery.

The crash prompted road closures in the area as police, firefighters and paramedics worked at the scene. Authorities urged motorists to avoid the affected roads while emergency operations and the investigation continued.

Police have not announced any charges, and the investigation into the circumstances of the crash remains ongoing.