A shuttle bus carrying 20 passengers and a driver crashed into a ditch along Highway 39 near Mackenzie, British Columbia, on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, leaving 20 people requiring medical care, including three in serious condition.
The crash occurred around 9 a.m. local time, approximately four kilometres south of Mackenzie. The northbound bus left the highway, triggering a major emergency response involving ambulances, helicopters and police. Two hospitals declared Code Orange as medical teams prepared for incoming patients.
Canada Bus Crash: Latest Updates on November 5
BC Emergency Health Services reported that seven patients required air ambulance transfers, while another 13 were transported to hospital by bus with paramedics.
- Location: Highway 39, south of Mackenzie, British Columbia.
- Time: Approximately 9:10 a.m., November 4.
- People aboard: 20 passengers and one driver.
- Patients: 20 requiring medical care.
- Serious injuries: Three patients in serious condition.
- Fatalities: None reported.
- Road status: Highway 39 reopened Wednesday afternoon.
- Cause: Under investigation.
Three Seriously Injured as Seven Patients Require Air Transfers
One seriously injured passenger was flown directly from the crash scene to hospital. Six other patients were initially transported by ground ambulance before being transferred by air to another medical facility.
Of those six, two were in serious condition and four were described as serious but stable. Another 13 patients, all in stable condition, travelled to hospital by bus accompanied by advanced care paramedics.
The emergency response included six ground ambulances, six air ambulances, paramedic supervisors and medical operations personnel.
| Reported Condition | Patients |
|---|---|
| Serious | 3 |
| Serious but stable | 4 |
| Stable | 13 |
| Total | 20 |
Two British Columbia Hospitals Declare Code Orange
Mackenzie and District Hospital and the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia in Prince George activated Code Orange emergency procedures to manage the influx of patients.
Code Orange allows hospitals to reorganize staffing, treatment areas and emergency resources during a major incident. It does not necessarily indicate fatalities.
The Mackenzie hospital lifted its emergency declaration at approximately 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, followed by the Prince George hospital about an hour later.
Highway 39 Reopens After Hours-Long Closure
Police closed Highway 39 while emergency crews treated passengers, recovered the vehicle and examined the crash scene. The closure temporarily disrupted the main road connection serving Mackenzie.
DriveBC reported the incident cleared at approximately 5:16 p.m. Wednesday.
The disruption follows another serious British Columbia traffic incident involving a Highway 99 crash near Surrey that caused major road closures.
IREN Confirms Contractor Chartered the Shuttle Bus
Australian-founded data infrastructure company IREN confirmed that one of its contractors had chartered the shuttle bus.
Company spokesperson Matt Epting said the priority was supporting everyone aboard and their families. IREN was coordinating with its contractor, emergency responders and police.
The contractor and passengers have not been publicly identified. Mackenzie Secondary School separately confirmed that none of its students were involved.
RCMP Investigates Cause of Mackenzie Bus Crash
BC Highway Patrol is investigating why the bus left the roadway. Police have not confirmed whether road conditions, weather, mechanical problems or driver-related factors contributed.
Sergeant Michael McLaughlin described the response as a chaotic scene and said investigators needed time to establish the circumstances.
The official RCMP incident statement provides details of the police response and investigation.
The accident comes amid wider attention to passenger transport safety following incidents such as a Queensland bus rollover involving multiple injured passengers.
Police Appeal for Witnesses and Dashcam Footage
Investigators are seeking witnesses and motorists with dashcam footage showing the shuttle bus before the crash.
Anyone with information can contact BC Highway Patrol in Prince George at 250-649-4004, quoting file 2026-956.
As of November 5, authorities had not confirmed the cause of the crash or released updated medical conditions for the injured passengers.
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