Ottawa bus crash investigation

The Transportation Safety Board, gave an update Friday afternoon on Wednesday’s tragic crash involving an Ottawa city bus and a Via Rail train. The train hit the brakes two seconds before impact, but it didn’t sound the horn because of a city ban against using it during certain hours of the day. The TSB confirmed the crossing’s gates and signals were working at the time of the crash.

Rail service resumed Friday morning on the busy corridor between Toronto and Ottawa. Transportation Safety Board investigators are looking into what caused the bus driver who was killed in the crash to drive into the train. But say it could be months before they have the answer. Ottawa bus drivers and passengers are still reflecting on the crash.

Bill Scharf, Ottawa resident: “I’m in a state of shock about this and I hope we never see it again.”

Daniel Brant, regular Via passenger: “Well, there’s always a safety concern, especially lately with everybody cutting back on budgets for transportation companies. Safety should be the top thing on the priority list. I’vee seen, over the years, it slipping.”

The crash killed six and sent more than 30 others to hospital.