World · North America · 1 hr ago
Neglected repairs and brake failure contributed to 2020 icefield bus crash
An Alberta fatality inquiry found neglected repairs contributed to a deadly rollover involving a tour bus in Jasper National Park.
The crash happened on the Athabasca Glacier in 2020, when an Ice Explorer carrying tourists rolled down a steep slope.
Three passengers died and 14 were severely injured.
The inquiry found the vehicle had dangerously worn parts, inadequate brake power and missed routine maintenance.
It also found the driver was descending in neutral without six-wheel drive engaged, so the bus gained speed and its defective brakes could not stop it.
The inquiry identified driver actions and mechanical failures as contributing factors.
Judge Vaughn Myers called on tour operator Pursuit, also known as Brewster, to make safety improvements.
A fatality inquiry found that neglected repairs and a catastrophic brake failure contributed to a 2020 tour bus rollover at the Columbia Icefield.
Three passengers died and 14 others were seriously injured.
The Ice Explorer was travelling downhill in neutral without six-wheel drive engaged, and its driver could not stop it with the defective brakes.
The inquiry also identified the steep slope and lack of seatbelts as contributing factors.
Judge Vaughn Myers recommended improvements to vehicle inspection records and safety practices.
- Who
- The crash involved an Ice Explorer tour bus carrying tourists. Three passengers died, and 14 others were seriously injured.
- What
- The bus rolled down an embankment after its brakes failed.
- When
- July 2020. The articles give different dates: July 18 and July 19.
- Where
- The Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park, Alberta, on a road leading to the Athabasca Glacier.
- Why
- The inquiry found that neglected repairs and worn, inadequately inspected brakes contributed. The bus was also in neutral and did not have six-wheel drive engaged.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
An Ice Explorer bus rolled down an embankment at the Columbia Icefield, killing three passengers and seriously injuring 14.
A fatality inquiry was held to examine the crash and possible measures to prevent similar tragedies.
The inquiry findings were reported, identifying brake failure and neglected repairs as contributing factors.
- Deaths
- 3 passengers
- Seriously injured
- 14 people
- Maximum powered speed
- 14 km/h
- Speed while descending
- 41 to 49 km/h, according to CBC
- Slope grade
- 40 per cent; the manufacturer’s maximum grade specification was 36 per cent
- Bus operator
- Pursuit, also known as Brewster
2 sources
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What people are saying
In short the brakes suffered a catastrophic failure because they were worn, improperly inspected and concerns with respect to the brakes functioning were not attended to
There are two primary contributing factors