Emergency crews responded Saturday to a tour vehicle rollover that has left three people dead and multiple others injured in Jasper National Park.
Jasper RCMP worked with other emergency responders at a rocky, steep scene near the Columbia Icefield and Highway 93, a police news release said Saturday.
RCMP said three people died in the rollover.
A statement from AHS late Saturday said a total of 24 people were taken to hospital, including 14 in critical, life threatening condition. Four were is serious but stable condition, and six in stable condition.
There were 27 people inside the vehicle when it rolled.
EMS, STARS air ambulance and multiple fire departments responded to the accident. Parks Canada crews were also on the scene.
Tour company Pursuit operates tours in the area. Spokeswoman Tanya Otis confirmed an Ice Explorer off-road vehicle overturned at 2:09 p.m. as it made its way to the Athabasca Glacier.
“We will provide additional details as they become available. Our immediate concern is with the injured and their families and we are supporting the efforts of first responders,” said Otis.
Pursuit’s website says the Ice Explorer can carry up to 56 people. They are described as 3.86 metres tall, 13 metres long and 3.61 metres wide. The tour vehicles have large monster truck-style tires and are painted red and white in a Canadian flag design.
AHS spokesman Kerry Williamson said multiple people are injured, some in critical condition and others in serious condition.
“We are preparing several of our hospitals, including in Edmonton and Calgary, for patients involved in the Columbia Icefields accident,” said Williamson.
STARS confirmed it sent three helicopters to the site of the rollover.Spokeswoman Fatima Khawaja confirmed they transported two people to Edmonton hospitals and one to a Calgary medical centre.
A 31-year-old man was taken to the University of Alberta hospital in critical, potentially life-threatening condition. A middle-aged woman was taken to the Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary in critical, potentially life-threatening condition. A 27-year-old woman was taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in serious but stable condition.
“STARS gratefully acknowledges our emergency response partners and community allies who participated in these missions,” said Khawaja.
Photos of the rollover sent to Postmedia show the tour vehicle upside down in what appears to be a field of loose rocks. At least 17 people can be seen around the bus who look like they are evacuating victims.
There also appears to be multiple people lying on the rocks around the bus.
Rob Kanty said he was on a sightseeing bus around the time of the crash. He said there is moraine rock that has been moved by glaciers all over the scene.
“A section of road above the sno-coach just broke off and slid down, unfortunately taking a coach down with it,” said Kanty in a message over social media.
Emergency crews have not confirmed that any sort of landslide caused the rollover.
