By Charles Lefebvre

Saskatchewan Coroners Service releases report into Broncos bus crash

Feb 25, 2019 | 1:27 PM

REGINA, SASK. — The Saskatchewan Coroners Service is calling for mandatory seatbelts on buses following its investigation into the Humboldt Broncos bus crash.

The report, released Monday, outlined six recommendations for several agencies to implement, and are calling on Transport Canada to “create regulations mandating the installation of seatbelts in highway public transport buses,” the final report reads. The organization is also recommending Transport Canada enhance regulations for driver training and electronic logging for semi truck drivers.

The collision between the team bus and semi truck on April 6 killed 16 people and injured 13 others.

Transport Canada announced this summer that all newly built buses will be required to have seatbelts starting in 2020.

The service also asked the director of the Saskatchewan Highway Patrol has also been recommended to review their policies to ensure stricter compliance with regulations and standards for commercial vehicle drivers, and are asking SGI (Saskatchewan Government Insurance) to work with the trucking industry to create standardized, and potentially mandatory, training for truck drivers.

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The report also recommends the Province of Saskatchewan’s Highway and Infrastructure Minister review their policies about traffic control devices and signs at intersections.

Finally, issues regarding the identification of the deceased were mentioned in the report. The Cororners Service are being directed to create a plan for a mass casualty/fatality event and train their staff, including information regarding identifying the deceased. The CEO of the Saskatchewan Health Authority is also being asked to review their policies and procedures about identifying people in their care during the mass casualty/fatality event.

The report calls the deaths in the collision accidental, and says no inquest will be held.