A tragic morning on Highway 401 near London, Ontario turned deadly when a school bus rolled over, claiming the life of its driver in a devastating single-vehicle collision.
The incident occurred around 10:15 a.m. Thursday on the eastbound lanes near the Colonel Talbot Road overpass in Middlesex Centre. Emergency crews responded to reports of a school bus that had left the roadway and rolled into the ditch.
Ontario Provincial Police confirmed the sobering news that the bus driver, the only person aboard the vehicle at the time, was pronounced dead at the scene. The identity of the deceased has not been released pending notification of family members.
Massive Emergency Response
The collision triggered a significant emergency response with multiple agencies rushing to the scene. Middlesex-London Paramedic Service, local fire departments, and OPP officers all converged on the stretch of highway.
"Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the individual involved in this tragic incident," said an OPP spokesperson in a statement to media.
Major Highway Disruption
The crash caused substantial disruption to one of Ontario's busiest transportation corridors. Eastbound lanes of Highway 401 were completely closed at the Colonel Talbot Road exit for several hours as police investigated the scene and crews worked to clear the wreckage.
Commuters faced significant delays and were advised to seek alternate routes throughout the afternoon. The highway has since reopened to traffic.
Investigation Underway
OPP technical traffic collision investigators remain on scene working to determine what caused the school bus to leave the roadway. Authorities have not yet released any information about potential contributing factors.
Notably, no students were on board the bus at the time of the incident, a detail that prevented what could have been an even greater tragedy. The bus was reportedly not transporting children when the rollover occurred.
The investigation continues as authorities work to piece together the events leading up to this fatal collision on one of Ontario's most traveled highways.
