Tragic Bus Rollover Near Grande Prairie Claims One Life, Injures Over 20
A devastating bus accident on Highway 43 in Alberta has left one woman dead and more than twenty people injured, including children and adults from a church group. The chartered bus, operated by Diversified Transportation Ltd., was transporting 37 passengers from St. Albert to Grande Prairie when it made contact with the median and rolled into a ditch less than 60 kilometers east of its destination.
Church Group Returning from Trip When Tragedy Struck
The passengers were members of a Pathfinder program affiliated with the Grande Prairie Seventh Day Adventist Church, returning home from a church-organized trip. According to Pastor Dan Wilson, who posted on social media the day after the incident, the bus driver attempted to switch lanes near the DeBolt exit when control was lost due to severe ice conditions.
"Dark and cold, they did their best to help each other," Wilson wrote. "One of our kids found a phone and called 911."
Emergency Response and Mass Casualty Protocol
Grande Prairie RCMP, fire, rescue, and EMS responded to the emergency call around 10:27 p.m. on February 7, 2026. STARS air ambulance responders also arrived via ground transport. The incident was immediately assessed as a mass casualty event, triggering requests for additional resources and specialized response protocols.
Emergency personnel triaged casualties using specific parameters to determine injury severity and prioritize care. This systematic approach allowed responders to provide emergency treatment and arrange transportation efficiently despite challenging conditions.
Injury Assessment and Hospital Transport
The injuries sustained in the crash varied significantly in severity:
- Six casualties were triaged as serious and transported by ambulance to Grande Prairie Regional Hospital (GPRH). Their current conditions remain unknown.
- Sixteen people with minor injuries were assessed at the scene and transported to GPRH via a second bus brought to the location. These individuals were treated and released.
- Remaining passengers were taken to the Debolt fire hall until additional transportation could be arranged.
Victim Identified as Pathfinder Leader
Pastor Wilson identified the deceased victim as Lillian Banda, a Pathfinder leader who was ejected from the bus during the rollover and died at the scene. The February 8th RCMP media update confirmed that while the investigation continues with assistance from collision reconstruction specialists, preliminary findings suggest road conditions played a significant role in the accident.
Weather Conditions and Ongoing Investigation
Environment Canada's historical data indicates temperatures were approximately -3°C with freezing rain in the area at the time of the crash. These conditions likely contributed to the hazardous driving environment that led to the tragic loss of control.
RCMP have engaged local victim services and RCMP Victim and Family Liaison Officers to provide support to those affected by the tragedy. The investigation remains active as authorities work to determine the exact sequence of events that led to this devastating outcome on Alberta's winter highways.
