Families of the young cadets face loss and multiple injuries after a cadet bus crash Saturday at 9: 00 a. m. ET that overturned a school bus in Sainte-Rose-de-Watford. Provincial police said one child died and 17 others were injured, including four with serious injuries and 13 with minor injuries.
Cadet Bus Crash Victims in Sainte-Rose-de-Watford: Death, Serious and Minor Injuries
Immediate effects fell hardest on the cadets aboard the bus and their families: one child is dead and 17 others sustained injuries, provincial police said. Four people suffered serious injuries, and the bus driver was among those seriously hurt; another 13 people sustained minor injuries. The bus was carrying cadets, Samuel Poulin, the minister responsible for the Chaudière-Appalaches region, said.
What Provincial Police Describe About the Overturning, Frédéric Deshaies
Provincial police spokesperson Frédéric Deshaies said the bus was travelling south on a local road in Sainte-Rose-de-Watford when it slipped to the left before tipping over, possibly due to difficult road conditions. Police are investigating the cause of the crash and have not yet confirmed a final determination on factors that led to the vehicle overturning.
Local Officials and Bus Owner Respond: Premier François Legault and Autobus Auger
Premier François Legault responded on X to express support for the young cadets and the Sainte-Rose-de-Watford community, writing he was “wholeheartedly with the loved ones of the young victim who died today in the overturning of a school bus in Chaudière-Appalaches. ” Autobus Auger, which owns the bus involved, expressed condolences in a Facebook post; company president Sylvain Auger said they were “in shock” and extended their sincerest condolences to the family of the victim.
Still, the small community of just over 700 people is coping with the sudden impact of the crash. Sainte-Rose-de-Watford is about 35 kilometres from Saint-Georges and near the U. S. border, and local leaders have described the event as deeply affecting the tight-knit area.
Police have distinguished the severity of injuries: four serious and 13 minor, with emergency responders treating passengers at the scene and transporting others to nearby medical facilities. For now, officials have not issued a timeline for releasing additional medical updates on those injured.
Yet, investigators have said road conditions may have played a role in the bus slipping and overturning. Provincial police continue to examine the scene and gather evidence that could clarify whether weather, road maintenance, driver factors or vehicle condition contributed to the overturning.
If provincial police determine that difficult road conditions caused the crash, that finding would shape any safety recommendations or follow-up actions by local officials and transportation operators.
More details expected as the investigation proceeds; police are the authoritative source on cause and injury tallies.
