A tragic bus accident at the Horseshoe Bay terminal on Wednesday resulted in the death of a four-year-old boy and left his mother in critical condition. The incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. when a transit bus veered onto the curb, striking the mother, her child, and a family friend. Witness Christine Adams was waiting for a ferry when she witnessed the horrific scene unfold. "It happened within a matter of seconds," Adams recounted. "The bus ended up going right and jumped the curb. It was a horrific thing to witness."

The impact of the crash was devastating. Images from the scene showed a stroller lying on its side beneath the rear of the bus, with two sneakers scattered on the pavement. Nearby, an elderly man with a walker stood close to the chaos, while a woman comforted a child off to the side. Adams described seeing one adult pinned beneath the bus, and the bus stop sign was knocked down, with debris littering the sidewalk.

Adams expressed her shock at the situation, stating, "That could have been me. I’m shocked that the mother is alive. She was pinned under a tire of the bus, and I could only see her legs." The scene was chaotic, with bystanders screaming and some narrowly avoiding being struck by the bus. The articulated bus came to a stop, and the driver, appearing shocked, exited the vehicle to assess the damage.

Authorities from West Vancouver police confirmed that the four-year-old boy died at the scene. His mother was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, while a family friend was also hospitalized and is currently in stable condition. The Coast Mountain Bus Company drivers’ union, Unifor Locals 111, expressed condolences to the victims' families but refrained from speculating on the cause of the crash. "Our hearts go out to the victims and their families following this tragic event," the union stated. "At this time, we cannot comment on whether mechanical failure or a medical event was involved, as the official investigation is still ongoing."

TransLink officials acknowledged public concern but stated they would not comment further while the police investigation is ongoing. Hauke Andresen, a retired Coast Mountain Bus Company operator, suggested that driver error may have played a role in the accident. "There’s nothing that would cause the bus to jump the curb, other than a flat tire, which would pull the bus to the right from the weight of the bus," he explained. He noted that the 257 route uses larger articulated buses that require more space to maneuver, especially when making turns.

Andresen emphasized that Coast Mountain Bus Company vehicles undergo thorough inspections before departing, including air-brake checks and regular maintenance based on mileage. He added, "As a bus driver, you’ll never recover from that. Your career is over."

Police have seized the bus for mechanical inspection, and they do not believe speed was a factor in the crash. TransLink's safety statistics indicate that there have been nine preventable bus collisions in 2024, consistent with the average over the past five years. The investigation into this tragic incident continues.