Wild Rose School Division bus driver suffers medical episode, students safe

Charlotte Small Elementary Grade 1 students are safe after a school bus driver suffered a medical episode while transporting them to a field trip on June 11.

The driver was carrying 27 children to the Discovery Wildlife Centre near Innisfail when the medical episode occurred. Wild Rose School Division deputy superintendent Greg Wedman said the bus veered out of its lane and entered the ditch along Highway 11 between Benalto and Sylvan Lake.

“Everyone was quite fortunate that the bus was able to stop before getting any further or heading into oncoming traffic,” he said.

Emergency services were called to the scene. School division officials said all students were assessed and cleared by ambulance personnel before continuing the trip.

A replacement bus was dispatched, and the students continued on to Innisfail.

To support students and parents who may have been shaken by the incident, Wedman said the school’s family wellness counsellor, along with principal Cheryl Kalev, joined students at the wildlife park.

The remainder of the day proceeded without incident, Wedman said.

The condition of the bus driver was not immediately known.