Winter Storm Blamed as Swim Team Bus Collides with Truck in Quebec
A bus carrying a junior swim team collided with a heavy truck during a snowstorm in Quebec’s Laurentians region on Thursday, leaving several people injured. The crash occurred in Mont-Laurier, about 200 kilometers north of Montreal, as a winter storm blanketed the province with heavy snow.
Quebec provincial police confirmed that six of the approximately 30 people on board the bus were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash, with a police spokesman suggesting that the severe weather conditions may have been a contributing factor.
The Val-d’Or Marsouins swimming club, based in northwestern Quebec, identified the bus as transporting its team to the Junior Quebec Cup competition in Blainville. In a Facebook post, club president Normand Pouliot assured the community that all passengers, including 25 swimmers, a head coach, parents, and the bus driver, were out of danger. “Most of the victims suffered only minor injuries and will return to Val-d’Or on Friday,” Pouliot wrote, adding that some of the more seriously injured had undergone surgery.
Francis Ménard, head of Quebec’s swim federation, said the injured included five swimmers aged 12 to 17 and one coach, some of whom sustained fractures. Despite the accident, the competition continued after consultation with coaches and athletes, with participants showing solidarity for the Val-d’Or team. A minute of applause was held at the event on Friday morning, and teams across the province shared messages of support on social media.
Ménard also noted that plans are being made to ensure all participants return home safely ahead of another expected snowstorm on Sunday. “Some teams may need to leave early, and the schedule will be adjusted as needed,” he said. A welcoming committee of health, social services, and school representatives will greet the returning swimmers in Val-d’Or.
A spokesperson for the Laurentian health authority confirmed that nearly 30 people were evaluated at Mont-Laurier hospital following the crash, with only one person remaining hospitalized as of Friday morning. The spokesperson could not provide details on the patient’s condition or information about those transferred to other hospitals.
The incident has highlighted the challenges of winter travel in Quebec, even as the swimming community rallies around the affected team. Authorities continue to investigate the crash while urging caution on the roads during severe weather conditions.