Fuchsia Dragon | [email protected]
Jasper RCMP have launched an investigation into the cause of Saturday's fatal Ice Explorer rollover.
At 2.09 p.m. July 18, an Ice Explorer taking passengers to the Athabasca Glacier along Snocoach Road, one of the steepest roads in Canada with an average gradient of 6.12 per cent, left the road and rolled - coming to rest 50 to 100 yards away.
There were 26 passengers and one driver on board the 50 foot, 25-tonne vehicle.
RCMP, Parks Canada and fire department units immediately responded to the Columbia Icefield scene.
Three adults were confirmed dead and 24 patients, including the driver, were treated at the scene and transported to hospitals in Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Prairie, and Banff.
Fourteen patients were transported in critical condition, with primarily head or pelvis injuries, five were in serious condition, with leg and/or shoulder fractures, and five patients were transported in stable condition, with minor injuries.
"We are extremely proud of the healthcare and emergency services teams that provided a quick, cohesive and comprehensive response to the accident at the Columbia Icefield," said Alberta Health Services communications officer Kerry Williamson in an email Sunday.
"At the same time, our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the families and loved ones of the three people who died, as well as those patients who were injured."
At this time, no names or any identifying details are being released as police notify families of those involved.
The response to the accident involved 28 ground ambulances, fixed wing ambulances, and helicopter resources from the North, Edmonton, Central and Calgary Zones.
The first ground ambulance arrived from Jasper at 3:17 p.m., and the last patient was transported from the scene at 8:43 p.m.
Williamson said due to the extremely difficult terrain and no road access to the crash site, some patients were triaged and treated near the bus before being airlifted from the scene to waiting ambulances at a nearby staging area.
And hospitals in both Edmonton and Calgary were put on “Code Orange” alert so that they were prepared for the high number of patients with critical and serious injuries.
Jasper RCMP's investigation into the rollover is still ongoing and efforts are underway to remove the vehicle from the crash site and complete a mechanical inspection.
Officers are continuing to obtain witness statements, gather information, identify the deceased, and complete next-of-kin notifications.
At a press conference Sunday, Sergeant Rick Bidaisee, commander of the Jasper detachment, said he was unable to confirm the cause of the rollover.
"The investigation is in its infancy stage and all aspects will be looked at," he said.
Operations at the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre will remain on hold until the investigation is completed.
Dave McKenna, president of the Banff-Jasper Collection for Pursuit (formerly Brewster), said this is the first serious incident in 40 years of Ice Explorer operations and a review into the incident started the moment it occurred.
"We are deeply saddened by this tragedy," he said.
He said he did not know the cause of the crash and it would be inappropriate to speculate.
Pursuit has a license of occupation to use the Snocoach Road, which joins the Icefield Parkway to the Athabasca Glacier, and McKenna said teams are out there daily to make sure the road is graded.
He added that Pursuit's 22 Ice Explorers, off-road vehicles with a max speed of 40 kilometres an hour, are regularly maintained and refitted.
In a normal summer, the Columbia Icefield Adventure takes about 4,000 passengers a day, but due to COVID-19, its busiest days this year have seen about 500. The bus that crashed was at its new maximum capacity of 26 passengers, when previously it would have held 56.
McKenna said the glacier tour operation has a team of professional, year-round drivers for the snow coaches and this year's drivers are "some of the most talented drivers in many years".
Highway 93 remains open at this time, and police ask the public to stay clear of the area so they have room to continue their work.
Anyone with information about the rollover is asked to call the Jasper RCMP Detachment at 780-852-3883.
